“You’re not going to leave ’em, are you?” called Ned.
“I guess not!” said Jerry. “I’ve got to back down to ’em, and stand ready to start ahead suddenly!”
“Save us!” the girls in the boat cried.
One of them had lost an oar, and the other was too frightened to do anything, even had she the strength to stem the flow of water. Nearer and nearer to the dam drifted the boat.
“Sit still! We’ll save you!” cried Jerry.
By this time the motor boat was some distance above the small craft. Jerry sent it toward the left shore in a long curve. This placed the Dartaway just above the rowboat. Then he reversed the engine, and the motor boat began to back down the stream.
“Stand ready to heave the line!” called Jerry to Bob. “Now girls!” he went on, “you catch the rope when he throws it! Wind it around an oar lock, and hold on to it!”
Bob sent the coils spinning through the air. They straightened out and several twists fell over the bow of the small drifting boat.
“Catch hold!” cried Jerry.