"Tell us how you escaped. Can't you see, we are hardly able to believe
that it is really you?" was Miss Elting's excited reply.

"It's myself, and no other, as Jane would say. After you had left me I
ran back to the wagon to get the blanket and cushions we had left
there. I knew the fire was near me, but I thought I had time enough to
get away from it. Suddenly I felt the bridge giving way. I was close
to the opening into which the horses fell when things began to happen,
and I made a long, desperate dive into the river, hoping to get out
from under the bridge before it fell on me. I remember seeing a great
shower of sparks falling around me as I shot through the air. I
wondered if it were the bridge that was falling with me. Then I struck
the water. I swam under the water with the current as fast as I could,
then when I thought I had gone far enough, to make it safe to rise, I
did so. I don't recall what happened after that. I must have been hit
by something, or else bumped into a timber when I rose to the surface.
It is a wonder I wasn't drowned. When I came to my senses I was slowly
drifting down stream, clinging to a piece of charred plank. I know it
was charred because I could smell it. You know how wet, burnt wood
smells? This piece of plank smelled that way."

"Nithe, appetizing odor," nodded Tommy. "Yeth? Go on."

"I did not know where I was, but I knew I was drifting downstream. I
kicked until I had headed the plank at right angles to the shore, and
remained on the plank until my feet touched bottom; then I got up and
began plodding along upstream, knowing that, sooner or later, I should
find some of you folks. I heard someone call. Was it you, Jane?"