flea-bitten old devil go, she's brought trouble enough already."

"Help me shove off the boat, Giles," shouted Tom. "She shan't beat us;
we must have her for the hounds. Come on, Ella."

"Best leave her alone, Master Tom," said Giles. "I think she's an
unlucky one, that I do."

Still the end of it was that he helped to float the little boat and got
into it with Tom and Ella.

Just after they had pushed off I saw a man running down the steps on
the cliff waving his arms while he called out something. But of him they
took no heed. I do not think they noticed him. As for me, I swam on.

I could not go very fast because I was so dreadfully tired; also I did
not like swimming, and the cold waves broke over my head, making the cut
in my nose smart and filling my eyes with something that stung them.
I could not see far either, nor did I know where I was going. I knew
nothing except I was about to die, and that soon everything would be at
an end; men, dogs--everything, yes, even Tom. I wanted things to come
to an end. I had suffered so dreadfully, life was so horrible, I was so
very tired. I felt that it was better to die and have done.

So I swam on a long way and began to forget things; indeed I thought
that I was playing in the big turnip field with my mother and sister.
But just as I was sinking exhausted a hand shot down into the water and
caught me by the ears, although from below the fingers looked as though
they were bending away from me. I saw it coming and tried to sink more
quickly, but could not.