The boatman, who
could also swim, called out to Baruch to hold on, gave the boat three
or four vigorous strokes from the stern, and Baruch felt the ground
under his feet. The boatman's little cottage was not far off, and,
when the party reached it, Benjamin earnestly desired Miss Masters to
take off her wet clothes and occupy the bed which was offered her.
He himself would run home--it was not half-a-mile--and, after having
changed, would go to her house and send her sister with what was
wanted. He was just off when it suddenly struck him that his father
might need some attention.
'Oh, father--' he began, but the boatman's wife interposed.
'He can't be left like that, and he can't go home; he'll catch his
death o' cold, and there isn't but one more bed in the house, and
that isn't quite fit to put a gentleman in. Howsomever, he must turn
in there, and my husband, he can go into the back-kitchen and rub
himself down. You won't do yourself no good, Mr Cohen,' addressing
the son, whom she knew, 'by going back; you'd better stay here and
get into bed with your father.'
In a few minutes the boatman would have gone on the errand, but
Benjamin could not lose the opportunity of sacrificing himself for
Miss Masters. He rushed off, and in three-quarters of an hour had
returned with the sister. Having learned, after anxious inquiry,
that Miss Masters, so far as could be discovered, had not caught a
chill, he went to his father.
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