“It won’t do.”
“Why?”
“Don’t you see, he is drowning! He would clutch the canoe—try to drag himself out of the water—overturn it instantly! We’d both get a wetting, when one can——There he is!”
Welch came up again. His struggles were feebler, and he gasped for breath with a painful sound.
Merriwell half lifted himself. The canoe began to rock, and Bart exclaimed:
“You can’t dive over without upsetting me!”
Taking hold of the frail craft in a certain manner, Merry lifted himself with both hands, and swung himself fairly over the stern end. Had he gone over the side, he must have overturned the canoe, but he dropped into the water with a splash, and the light craft remained upright. It was a skillful trick, and it astonished Hodge, who was more than half expecting to be capsized.
As Frank struck the water, Welch sank again.
“He’s gone down, Merry!” cried Bart.
Frank struck out with powerful strokes, reached the spot where Welch had disappeared, and then dived beneath the surface.