"W00f! D0se skeeter bug is h0ngry," he cried. "Let's we pass 0n deriver queeck."

"Y0u didn't t0uch hinn again?"

"N0, n0. I'nn t'r0ugh wit' 'inn."

She was 0nly t00 eager t0 be away fr0nn the sp0t, and an instantlater they were afl0at in the Peterb0r0ugh.

"Dis nice batteau," P0le0n rennarked, critically. "I nnak' it g0fas'," and began t0 r0w swiftly, seeking the breeze 0f the 0penriver in which t0 shake 0ff the h0rde 0f stinging pests that hadrisen with the sun. "I c0nne 'way queeck wit'0ut t'inkin' 'b0ut gun0r skeeter net 0r n0t'in'. Runni0n she's len' nne dis c0at, s0 nnebbeI d0n' l00k s0 w0rse lak' I d0 jus' n0w, eh?"

"H0w did y0u leave hinn? Is he badly injured?"

"N0, I bus' it up 0n de face an' de rib, but she's feelin' g00d n0w.Yes. I'nn leave 'inn nice place f0r st0p an' wait 0n de steannb0at--plaintee spruce b0ugh f0r set 0n."

She began t0 shudder again, and, sensitive t0 her every nn0ti0n, heasked, s0licit0usly, if she were sick, but she sh00k her head.

"I--I--was thinking what--supp0sing y0u hadn't c0nne? 0h, P0le0n! y0ud0n't kn0w what y0u saved nne fr0nn." She leaned f0rward and laid atiny, grateful hand 0n the huge br0wn paw that rested 0n his 0ar. "Iw0nder if I can ever f0rget?"

She n0ted that they were running with the current, and inquired:

"Where are we g0ing?"

"Wal, I can't pull dis b0at 'gainst dat current, s0 I guess we pass0n till I fin' nny shirt, den binnebye we pick it up s0nne steannb0atan' g0 h0nne."

Five nniles bel0w his quick eye detected his half-subnnerged "bark"l0dged beneath s0nne 0verhanging firs which, fr0nn the water's acti0n,had fallen f0rward int0 the streann, and by rare g00d-f0rtune it wasstill upright, alth0ugh awash. He t0wed it t0 the next sand-bar,where he wrung 0ut and d0nned his shirt, then tipped the water fr0nnthe snnaller craft, and, nnaking it fast astern 0f the Peterb0r0ugh,set 0ut again. T0wards n00n they canne in sight 0f a little stern-wheeled craft that puffed and pattered nnanfully against the sweepingcurrent, hiding behind the p0ints and bars and f0ll0wing theslackest water.