Still he was evidently nearer the shore than he was when he caught the board.

Charlie watched with breathless anxiety this conflict with the waters, chafing at his own helplessness in the case, and longing to throw himself in. No person was near at hand, for the mill was on the other side of the stream, and the village was nearly half-a-mile off. He dared not leave his drowning friends, lest he might miss some opportunity of helping them.

Just when he was indulging the hope of their safety, they drifted to a spot where the current grew much stronger, and they were carried with frightful swiftness directly to the race-way. Oh, the agony of that moment to Charlie! his companions going so swiftly and surely to an awful death, and he powerless to save them.

Donald, too, saw the danger. They were within a few yards of the race-way which, like a giant's mouth, was open to devour them. Going at the rate they then were, in another moment they would be beyond human aid. His self-possession now came to his help. If

he could only turn the board so that it would dash sideways against the mouth of the raceway, all might yet be well; but if the end should enter, they must follow, follow to certain death. It is true, he could drop his young friend, and yet save himself by a few bold strokes; but this he never for a moment so much as thought of.

It was an awful moment. He made the attempt, difficult though it was, and got the board turned just in time for it to catch the two sides of the race-way. It bent fearfully from the pressure of the water, but it did not break.

Charlie Spence had been calling lustily for help; but the mill was across the stream, and the noise of the machinery so great that his cries were drowned.

Just as the board was thrown into the water, the mill stopped for a moment, and then the poor boy's cries were heard. Several men

ran at once to the rescue.

One of them was an able-bodied fellow,an excellent swimmer, so he jumped in at

once, and relieved Donald of his burden. The current was stronger than he thought, and he was very nearly sucked into the race-way; but a few desperate strokes of one brawny arm, and his two feet, sent him out of the reach of danger. In a few seconds, he placed his insensible burden on the river's bank.

Restoratives were immediately applied, and the little fellow, who had not really been very long in the water, soon revived.

It was an easier task to rescue Donald. A rope was thrown to him, and he was without much difficulty drawn to the shore.

He emptied the water out of his boots, wrung his wet clothes, and proceeded homeward. He cut a sorry figure as he went along.

His mother was so busy that she did not observe his entrance till he stood before her. She was astonished at his pale face and drenched look.

"Why Donald!" she exclaimed, "where have you been?"

"In the mill-dam, mother; but I couldn't help it."

He then told her, as well as he could, all the story. She sent him at once to bed, giving him a warm drink, and putting a bottle filled with hot water to his feet. He was soon sleeping as sweetly as if he had never been in any danger, excepting that now and then he would start in his sleep. It was evident, however, that the little fellow had received no serious damage by the cold bath. Mrs. Fraser hung up his clothes before the fire to dry, for these were to be worn on the journey of the morrow. While he was sleeping away the effects of his dangerous adventure, she was ironing his damp clothes, and endeavoring to make them look as well as they did before. But, instead of indulging in vain regrets, her heart went up in devout gratitude to her heavenly Father for the preserving mercy that had spared her boy in such circumstances of danger.

"Surely," she said to herself, "God has again made his promise good to the dear boy: When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.'"

V.

ON THE JOURNEY.

GOOD while before daylight the next morning Donald was awakened from a sound sleep by his careful mother. Not for a moment had she slept that night, partly because the mishap which befel Donald had given her something to do, and partly because she was so anxious and excited about her expected journey, that repose was a thing quite out of the question for her.

They had thirty miles to go to Edinburgh. This was the first stage of their journey. They were to be carried thither in the cart of a kind neighbor, Mr. Kerr. In this little vehicle were packed all their worldly goods, including the provisions for the sea voyage. Although the hour was an early one, the neighbors were