two long silvery ripples. The "puppy" was leading.

With a curse their master threw the horn to his lips and blew an
imperious note. The rear dog turned his head and would have reversed
his course, but seeing his leader keep on he kept on with him. Again
the angry horn re-echoed, and the rear dog promptly turned back though
the other swam on.

Rebecca threw a look behind and it was pitiful to hear her outcry of
despair and terror. But Luke faced about and, backing after her
through the flood, prepared to meet the hound naked-handed. Hardy
sprang to his tiptoes in the stirrups, his curses pealing across the
water. "If you hurt that dog," he yelled, "I'll shoot you dead!"

Up-stream the other two runaways were out on the gravel-bar, Euonymus
behind Robelia and Robelia splashing ludicrously across the shoal,
tearing off and kicking off--in preparation for deep water--sunbonnet,
skirt, waist, petticoat, and howling in the self-concern of abject
cowardice.

"Thank heaven, she's a swimmer," thought I, "and won't drown her
brother!" For only a swimmer ever cast off garments that way.

The flight of Euonymus, too, was bare-headed and swift, but it was
unfrenzied and silent. Neither of them saw Luke or Rebecca; the sun
was in their eyes and at that instant Charmer and Dandy, having met
some momentary delay, once more bayed joyously and sprang into view.
Like Luke, Euonymus faced the brutes. With another fierce outcry Hardy
blew his recall of all the four dogs.