“Missed him, as I live!” gasped Doll.  “Bring him in again.”

Hugh let out the slippery line, and drew it in again slowly, hand over hand.  Doll’s round head was over the side, his long legs spread adhesively in the bottom of the boat.  Crack, beyond himself with excitement, got on the seat and barked without ceasing.

“He’s coming up again,” said Doll, gutturally, sliding forward his left hand.  “I must get him by the eyes, and then I doubt if I can lift him.  He’s a big brute.  He’s dragging the whole boat and everything.  He’s about done now.  Steady!  Now!”

The great side of the pike lay heaving on the surface for a second, and Doll’s left forefinger and thumb were groping for its eyes.  But the agonized pike made a last effort.  Doll had him with his left hand, but could not raise him.  “Pull him in now for all you’re worth,” he roared to Hugh, as he made a grab with his right hand.  His legs began to lose their grip under the violent contortions of the pike.  The boat tilted madly.  Hugh reached forward to help him.  There was a frantic effort, and it capsized.

“Bad luck,” said Doll, coming up spluttering, shaking his head like a spaniel.  “But we shall get him yet.  He’s bleeding like a pig.  He’ll come up directly.  Good Lord! the water’s like ice.  We must be over one of the springs.  I suppose you are all right, Scarlett.”

Hugh had come up, but in very different fashion.

“Yes,” he said, faintly, clutching the upturned boat.

“I’m not sure,” said Doll, keeping going with one hand, “that we had not better get ashore and fetch the other boat.  The water’s enough to freeze one.”

“I can’t swim,” said Hugh, his teeth chattering.

He was a delicate man at the best of times, and the cold was laying hold of him.

Doll looked at his blue lips and shaking hands, and his face became grave.  He measured the distance to the shore with his eye.  It had receded in a treacherous manner.

“I’m not much of a performer myself,” he said, “since I broke my arm last winter, but I can get to the shore.  The question is, can you hold on while I go back and bring the other boat, or shall we have a try at getting back together?”

“I can hold on all right,” said Hugh, instantly aware that Doll did not think he could tow him to land, but was politely ready to risk his existence in the attempt.

“Back directly,” said Doll, and without a second’s delay he was gone.  Hugh put out his whole strength in the endeavor to raise himself somewhat out of the ice-cold water.  But the upturned boat sidled away from him like a skittish horse, and after grappling with it he only slipped back again exhausted, and had to clutch it as best he could.

As he clung to the gunwale he heard a faint coughing and gasping close to his ear.  Some one was drowning.  Hugh realized that it must be Crack, under the boat.  He called to him; he chirruped, as if all were well.  He stretched one hand as far as he could under the boat feeling for him.  But he could not reach him.  Presently the faint, difficult sound ceased, began again, stopped, and was heard no more.