They did come up, however, and Inza’s white face was turned for a moment toward the two lads who were swimming to their rescue.
There was something in that look of appeal that smote Merriwell to the heart and made him frantic to reach her. He tore at the water with his powerful arms, and even the strongest roller did not bear him back or seem to check him in the least.
To him it did not seem that he was making any progress at all, and he was furious at the slowness with which he got along. He felt as if weights of lead were attached to his feet.
“Oh, this infernal water!” he panted. “It drags at me! I never swam so slowly in all my life! If they go down again—— Where are they?”
The girls had disappeared.
In a moment, however, they arose into view on the crest of a swell, still struggling.
“Hold on, Inza!” cried Frank. “Bear up a little longer!”
She answered with an inarticulate cry that seemed full of despair and turned Frank’s blood cold.
“Have I saved her from that English puppy for this!” he gasped. “Is it possible that she is to die now? Oh, no, no!”
Then Frank Merriwell prayed as he swam. He asked God to give him power to reach her and give her strength to bear up till he could get to her.