"What now?" said Eve, as he joined them.

He did not answer, only pointed first to the Clavering folk and next to
the water, showing that she must choose between the two.

"Swim for it!" growled Grey Dick. "I'll hold them back a while and then
join you," and as he spoke his bow twanged.

For an instant Eve paused, then threw off her scarlet cloak.

"Remember, I slew your brother!" said Hugh hoarsely.

"I remember that he would have slain you," she answered; and leapt
straight from the point into the icy flood, beneath which her head sank.

When it rose again there was another head beside it, that of dead John,
who appeared for one moment, to be seen no more for ever, since ere
morning the ocean had him.

Now Hugh leapt after her, and presently the pair of them were swimming
side by side to the river's further shore. Then, as now, it was but a
narrow stream. Yet they did not reach it easily, for, cumbered as they
were with clothes, and numbed by the ice-cold water, the fierce tide
caught them and carried them beyond the bend. There they were lost in
the gathering darkness, so that most of those who watched believed that
they had sunk and drowned. But it was not so, for after a long struggle
they came safe to shore near to a clump of willows, and clambered over
the frozen mud to the heath beyond.

"First fire, then water," said Hugh, in a mazed voice.