The man made no answer whatever. He did not even look up until Grace shook
him by the shoulder.

"There is no time to lose," she cried. "They may drown at any moment.
Come! Come quickly, and help me save them."

The man looked at her with a strange, far-away expression in his eyes.

"Don't you hear me?" cried Grace in an agony of impatience. "Are you
deaf?"

He shook his head stupidly, touching his ears and mouth.

"Deaf and dumb!" she exclaimed in despair.

Holding up two fingers, Grace pointed toward the water. Then she made a
swimming motion. Perhaps he had understood. She could not tell, but her
quick eye had caught sight of a long, thin plank on the shore.

Pulling off one of her mittens, she showed him a little pearl and
turquoise ring her mother had given her for a birthday present, indicating
that she would give it to him if he would help her. Then she seized one
end of the plank and made a sign for him to take the other; but the
stubborn creature began to unload the chips from the wagon.

Grace ran blindly ahead, dragging the plank alone.

"He's feeble-minded," she quivered. "I suppose I shall have to work this
thing by myself."