“We have got to save him!” cried Jack. “Here, Pepper, take the tiller.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Go overboard after him.”
As he spoke the youthful owner of the Alice pulled off his cadet coat and cap. The next instant he was at the side of the sloop. He poised himself for a dive, and then cut the water like a knife and disappeared from view.
CHAPTER III
ABOUT A GYMNASTIC CONTEST
Major Jack Ruddy was a good swimmer, and felt perfectly at home in the water. He did not go down deep, but he made a long “fetch,” and when he came up he was close beside Will Carey. He caught that youth by the arm and dragged him clear of the sail.
“Sa—save m—me!” sputtered the Pornell Academy youth, after blowing some water from his mouth.
“I will,” answered Jack. “But keep quiet.”
“M—my foot is—is fast!”
“So I see.”