THE RESCUE
A cry of horror and alarm arose from the startled boys when they beheld
the accident. In a moment one of the girls was seen swimming near the
overturned canoe. The other, however, was not within sight.
"It's time for us to do something!" shouted John, who was almost beside
himself in his excitement.
Fred at once had changed the course of the Black Growler but a
semi-circle was necessary to be turned before she could approach the
place where the girls had fallen into the river.
Grant, meanwhile promptly had removed his sweater and taken off his
sneakers preparing to go to the assistance of the unfortunate girls. As
he was the strongest and swiftest swimmer, his companions by common
consent had expected him to be the one to leap into the water.
A moment later it was seen that one of the girls had seized the canoe.
In her desperation, however, the frail little craft was over-turned and
she lost her hold and again disappeared from sight.
At that moment the motor-boat approached within twenty-five feet of the
place where the accident had occurred. Shouting to his friends to take
the canoe and do their utmost to rescue the unfortunate girl, Grant
dived from the deck of the Black Growler and a moment later with
powerful strokes was swiftly approaching the victims of the accident.
Meanwhile, following the instructions of Grant, John and George had
been able with a boat-hook to reach the overturned canoe and drawing it
speedily to them, both carefully and hastily took their places on board.
"Get one of the girls while I am getting the other," called Grant as he
turned his head for a moment toward his companions.
At that instant Grant saw the face of one of the girls appear on the
surface but a moment later it again disappeared from sight.
The current was moderately strong, and aware that when she again was
seen it would be a little farther down the river, Grant slowly moved
with the stream.
The depth of the water made it impossible for him to dive in an effort
to find her in the depths. Carefully he scanned the water all about him
and when in a brief time her face once more was seen and only a few
feet farther down the stream, with two powerful strokes he darted
forward and succeeded in seizing the girl by the hair of her head just
as she began to sink once more.
Grant was elated when he discovered that the girl was still conscious.
Holding to her hair with one hand he contrived to place himself behind
her. Then holding her up by one hand with which he grasped her under
the shoulder, he said hastily, "Don't move. Don't try to do anything
for yourself. There, don't do that," he added as the frantic girl made
an effort to seize him. "Don't touch me. Keep just as you are and
you'll be all right."
In a measure his orders were obeyed. Instead of trying to swim toward
the boat Grant was simply doing his utmost to keep himself and his
companion afloat. He was treading water and moving with the current.
At the same time he looked all about him for help. He saw two of his
friends in the canoe and was relieved when he discovered that John, who
in his excitement had neglected to drop the boat-hook was holding the
long implement toward the other girl who already had grasped it with
both hands and was being drawn toward the boys.
"Come here and help me," shouted Grant. He was hoping that his two
friends would be able to rescue the other girl, or at least prevent her
from sinking, but he was well aware that if he and his companion were
to be saved help soon must be had.
In response to his hail Fred turned the bow of the Black Growler and
slowly approached the place where Grant was struggling.
The girl now was motionless and Grant's great anxiety was in a measure
relieved. He had been fearful that she would try to seize him by the
neck or arms and prevent him from doing anything to help either of them.
Grant was aware also that his strength would not permit him to continue
the struggle much longer. Already he was breathing heavily and all his
powers were required to keep himself and the nearly unconscious girl
afloat. He had been able thus far to hold her head above the water, for
fortunately at this time the river was unusually calm.
Again, almost in despair, he looked back at the motor-boat.
"Here!" called Fred, who had left the wheel and was standing in the bow
holding a rope in his hand. "Catch this!" He had hastily tied a noose
in the end and as he threw this toward the struggling boy, Grant
fortunately grasped it.
By a supreme effort he managed to slip one arm through the noose and as
soon as this had been done Fred instantly began to pull. Several times
in spite of all the care Fred was exercising, the heads of Grant and
his companion were drawn beneath the water. Still Grant managed to
maintain his hold upon the girl and in a brief time they were drawn
alongside the Black Growler.
"I can't pull you both up," called Fred in his excitement.
"No," gasped Grant. "I don't think you can pull either one of us."
While he was speaking he had contrived to slip the noose over the
shoulders and under the arms of his companion. As soon as this had been
done, he released his hold and said to Fred, "You can keep her head out
of the water anyway. If your noose holds she's all right."
"What are you going to do?" demanded Fred.
"I'm all right," responded Grant as turning himself upon his back he
floated with the current and obtained a brief rest.
Meanwhile John and George had drawn Miss Susie Stevens to the canoe and
seized her by her hands. John had been seated in the stern but now he
stretched himself upon the bottom of the little craft and reached over
with his hands, one on each side of the canoe, and held the girl up so
that she was able to breathe, although he did not attempt to draw her
out of the water. "Take your paddle," he called to George. "I've got
her all right, but make for the Black Growler. There's no knowing what
will happen."
In this manner the canoe slowly was paddled toward the motor-boat, but
Fred was holding the rope by which the second girl was held and
consequently was unable to respond to the appeal of his friends to come
to their aid.
Meanwhile the motor-boat was drifting with the current and there was
grave danger that she might run aground on some one of the numerous
islands.
Indeed this was just what occurred a few minutes later.
The keel of the boat now grated on the rocky bottom. Grant, who had
been following the same course now obtained a precarious foothold and
at once advanced to the aid of the helpless girl. He was still
breathing heavily from his own exertions and his strength had not fully
returned. Stumbling, slipping on the rocks, twice nearly falling into
the river he managed to draw the girl up on the shore and as soon as he
was satisfied that she was living he called to Fred, "Go on back and
help the other fellows and I'll run up to this cottage and get some one
to look after this girl."
"Give me a push, I'm almost grounded," called Fred frantically.
The engine had been reversed and the added help which Grant gave as he
pushed hard against the bow sent the motor-boat back into the river.
Satisfied that there was nothing more to be done Grant once more turned
and as fast as he was able ran toward the cottage located fifty yards
back from the shore.
In response to his appeal two women and a man at once ran toward the
place where Grant had left the girl.
"Please look after her," said Grant hastily. "I want to go back to help
the others. We had an accident," he explained.
The boy was rapidly recovering his breath by this time and as already
he had seen a little skiff at the nearby dock, without asking
permission or explaining what he was about to do he ran to the place,
cast off and leaped on board. A few powerful strokes sent him out upon
the river once more and in a brief time he was near the place where the
canoe was drifting.
Cautiously approaching it, he soon was able to grasp Miss Susie Stevens
under her arms and draw her on board the skiff.
By this time the motor-boat had approached the spot, but Grant called
to Fred, "I'll take her right ashore where I took the other girl. Wait
for me out here or at the dock."
"We'll help you," called George from the canoe.
"All right," answered Grant.
Nothing more was said while the skiff and the canoe were soon swiftly
towed toward the dock.
Willing hands were there awaiting their coming, for the entire
household now had been aroused and was watching the events on the river.
In a brief time Miss Susie was lifted to the dock. She was still able
to stand and declared sturdily that she did not require any help.
However, two of the women, one on each side, were helping her, and in a
brief time she was assisted to the house and taken within the cottage.
"What shall we do now, fellows?" inquired Grant blankly as he turned to
greet his companions.
"We had better wait," replied George, "and take them back home as soon
as they are able to go."
"I guess that's good advice," responded Grant.
Shouting to Fred he bade him bring the Black Growler to the dock and
make her fast there while they waited for the more complete restoration
of the girls whom they had rescued.