"That's true also," again observes Miss Wynn assentingly, and with an admirable _sang froid_, which causes surprise to the companion.
Then succeeds a short interval of silence, broken by an exclamatory phrase of three short words from the lips of Miss Wynn.
"The way to get back--without much trouble, and without disturbing the arrangements we've made with old Joe the least bit."
"We'll keep on down the river to Rock Weir. There we can leave the boat, and walk across the neck to Llangorren. It isn't over a mile, though it's five times that by the course of the stream. At the Weir we can engage some water fellow to take back the _Gwendoline_ to her moorings. Meanwhile, we'll make all haste, slip into the grounds unobserved, get to the boat-dock in good time, and give Joseph the cue to hold his tongue about what's happened. Another half-crown will tie it firm and fast, I know."
"I suppose there's no help for it," says the companion, assenting, "and we must do as you say."
"Of course we must. As you see, without thinking of it, we've drifted into a very cascade, and are now a long way down it. Only a regular waterman could pull up again. Ah! 'twould take the toughest of them, I should say. So--_nolens volens_--we'll have to go on to Rock Weir, which can't be more than a mile now. You may feather your oars, and float a bit. But, by the way, I must look more carefully to the steering. Now, that I remember, there are some awkward bars and eddies about here, and we can't be far from them. I think they're just below the next bend."
So saying, she sets herself square in the stern sheets, and closes her fingers firmly upon the tiller cords.
They glide on, but now in silence; the little flurry, with the prospect of peril ahead, making speech inopportune.
Soon they are round the bend spoken of, discovering to their view a fresh reach of the river; when again the steerer becomes neglectful of her duty, the expression upon her features, late a little troubled, suddenly changing to cheerfulness--almost joy. Nor is it that the dangerous places have been passed; they are still ahead, and at some distance below. But there is something else ahead to account for the quick transformation--a row-boat drawn up by the river's edge, with men upon the bank beside.