His arms were tossing
wildly above the water, but the head with its floating golden curls
dipped under from time to time, and the little distorted mouth
opened for an agonized breath and scream, only to be stopped by the
in-rushing water. The boat rocking violently close by explained with
sufficient clearness how the accident had happened. The boy had
clambered on to the edge of the boat to rock himself, had
overbalanced and fallen into the water, and in his struggles had
already drifted some paces from the shore. Fido stood barking and
gasping on the step and dipping his paws into the water only to draw
them out again.
Malvine stretched out her arms to the child, but her feet refused
their office, she stood rooted to the spot, unable to do anything
but utter terrible inarticulate screams. Only a few seconds elapsed-
-just long enough to realize what had happened--when Wilhelm sprang
with lightning rapidity on to his chair, and from thence, with one
bound, over the parapet into the water. He disappeared below the
surface, but rose again at once just beside the child, who clung to
him with all his remaining strength. How he managed it he did not
know, but, although he could not swim, he managed to push the boy in
front of him toward the terrace, crying anxiously, "Catch hold of
him! Catch hold of him!" Life returned to Malvine's limbs, she
leaned over the parapet and stretched out her arms.
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