“Look out!”
“We’re going to be smashed!”
“That fellow must be crazy!”
Such were some of the cries coming from the Rover boys and their chums as the big aeroplane swooped around from one side to another almost over their heads.
It was a truly perilous moment, and no one realized it more than did the Rovers. And what to do not a one of them knew. To attempt to row out of the way might prove the worst move of all, for it might bring them directly to the spot where the aeroplane would come crashing down.
“Let’s dive overboard,” suggested Fred. “Go down as deep as you can!” he yelled.
This seemed good advice and some of the lads were on the point of following it when suddenly the aeroplane made another swoop and struck the surface of the lake some distance away. It sent the water flying in every direction, some of the drops even reaching the cadets. The propeller gave a snap and one blade went whizzing up into the sky to come down on the other side of Berry Island. Then the flying machine began slowly to settle and the motor stopped abruptly.
“Help! Help! Save us!” came in a girlish voice across the water. “Save us!”
“Look! Look!” exclaimed Jack, springing suddenly to his feet. “Unless I’m mistaken, that is Ruth Stevenson!”
“It is Ruth, just as sure as you’re born!” declared Fred. “And a man and the aviator are with her!”