It was dear old Tom's voice! The shout brought hope to Helen's heart.
"Oh, Tom! Tom!" she cried. "Save me!"
"Bet you I will!" returned the boy. "Just grab this rope——Now!"
She saw the loop come hurtling through the air. Tom had learned how to properly throw a lariat the summer before, while in Montana, and he and his particular chums had practised the art assiduously ever since that time.
Now, at his second trial, he dropped the noose right across the punt. Helen seized upon it.
"Hitch it to the ring in the bow—quick!" commanded her brother, and Helen obeyed.
In five minutes he had her ashore, but the punt sunk in shallow water.
"I don't care! I don't care!" cried Helen, wading through the shallow water. "I really thought I was going to drown, Tommy boy."
"But where's Ruth? Whatever have you girls been doing since last evening? Where did you go to?"
He held her in his arms for a moment and hugged her tightly. Helen sobbed a little, with her face against his shoulder.