"
Mrs. Channing leaned forward and grasped the woman's hand, gratitude
shining in her wet eyes. Mr. Channing and Judith had a fight which
should grasp the other. Lady Augusta laid hold of her behind, Sarah
assailed her in front. There appeared to be no room left for Constance
and the Bishop, or they might have assisted at the demonstration--as
the French say.
It was soon explained. That same barge had been passing down stream
again that night, when Charley fell into the water. The man heard the
splash, called to his horse to stop, leaped overboard, and saved him. A
poor little boy, with a wound in his head, quite senseless, it proved
to be, when they had him on board and laid him on the bench for
inspection. Meanwhile the docile horse went on of its own accord, and
before the knotty question was decided as to whether the man should
bring-to, and get him on shore, and try and discover to whom he
belonged, the barge was clear of the town, for the current was strong.
It had been nearly clear of it when it passed the cathedral wall, and
the splash occurred. The man thought it as well that it was so; his
voyage, this journey, was being made against time, and he dared not
linger. Had the boat-house keeper's mother not put her head under the
bed-clothes and kept it there, she might possibly have heard sounds of
the rescue.
So they kept Charley on board. He had evidently struck his head against
something which had caused the wound, and stunned him.
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