"There they are!" he heard Phil cry, and the next moment the rowboat came up close.
"Oh, oh! sa—sa—save m—me!" spluttered the girl; and breaking loose, she swung around and caught Dave tightly by the neck.
Dave caught her under the arms, and, treading water, brought both her and himself to the surface.—Page 24.[ToList]
It was the strangle-hold of a drowning person, and our hero might have fared badly had not assistance been at hand. But as it was, Roger and Phil reached out, and while Shadow and Ben balanced the rowboat, this pair hauled the girl on board. Then they aided Dave in getting in.
"Oh, oh! Is sh—she d—dead?" gasped the girl, as she looked at the woman who had collapsed on the stern seat.
"No, she has only fainted," answered Roger. "She'll soon be over it."
"How brave you are to come to our rescue!" went on the girl, turning to Dave. "I—I thought I was going to drown!" and she shuddered.
"It was a pretty close call," answered Phil. "My friend here jumped overboard just in the nick of time."