Suddenlytherewasacrackasofbreakingwood，acryandaheavysplash，andIwasalone，clingingtothebrokenendoftherailoftherusticbridge。
IdonotthinkIhesitatedwhilemypulsebeattwice。Isprangclearofthebridgeintotheblackrushingwater，divedtothebottom，cameupagainwithemptyhands，turnedandswamdownwardthroughthegrottointhethickdarkness，plunginganddivingateverystroke，strikingmyheadandhandsagainstjaggedstonesandsharpcorners，clutchingatlastsomethinginmyfingersanddraggingitupwithallmymight。Ispoke，Icriedaloud，buttherewasnoanswer。Iwasaloneinthepitchydarknesswithmyburden，andthehousewasfivehundredyardsaway。Strugglingstill，Ifeltthegroundbeneathmyfeet，Isawarayofmoonlight——
thegrottowidened，andthedeepwaterbecameabroadandshallowbrookasIstumbledoverthestonesandatlastlaidMargaret”sbodyonthebankintheparkbeyond。
“Aye，Willie，astheclockstruck！“saidthevoiceofJudith，theWelshnurse，asshebentdownandlookedatthewhiteface。Theoldwomanmusthaveturnedbackandfollowedus，seentheaccident，andslippedoutbythelowergateofthegarden。“Aye，“shegroaned，“youhavefedtheWomanoftheWaterthisnight，Willie，whiletheclockwasstriking。”
IscarcelyheardherasIkneltbesidethelifelessbodyofthewomanIloved，chafingthewetwhitetemplesandgazingwildlyintothewide-staringeyes。Irememberonlythefirstreturninglookofconsciousness，thefirstheavingbreath，thefirstmovementofthosedearhandsstretchingouttowardme。