to lift the bound and helpless Cuthbert in his strong arms.

Cuthbert closed his eyes. He knew well what was coming. A fall, a
sullen splash, one brief ineffectual struggle, and then black
darkness. He tried to breathe a prayer, but could form no words. He
thought of Cherry, of Petronella, and sharp stabs of pain seemed to
run through him. One minute more and all would be over. But what an
endless minute that was, whilst he felt the grip upon his body
growing firmer as the giant prepared to lift him.

What was that?

"Crack!"--a sudden flash from the dark underwood, and with a loud
cry his captor dropped him, and staggered backwards, to fall a few
paces farther on, where he lay rigid and motionless. Then from the
thicket there came the sound of a quick sharp cry, and a slim
figure rushed forward with the gasping question:

"Is he dead? Oh, have I killed him?"

And Cuthbert, raising his head, and scarce believing aught of this
could be anything but a fevered dream, uttered the one word:

"Petronella!"



Chapter 17: Brother And Sister.