“Help! I’m being pulled down! Help!” gasped the aviator.
“Go after him, fellows! I’m going after Mr. Stevenson!” called out Randy, and immediately leaped overboard, followed by his brother.
“Where is Ruth?” questioned Jack anxiously, for the girl from Clearwater Hall was one of his dearest friends.
He had scarcely spoken when he saw an arm appear a short distance away. Then Ruth’s head bobbed up and the girl uttered another cry.
“Help me! I can’t move my feet! Help me!”
By this time the second boat was close at hand and a glance showed Jack and Fred that the aviator was already clambering on board. Another glance showed Randy and Andy supporting Mr. Stevenson.
“I’m coming, Ruth! Keep up!” cried Jack, and leaping to the bow of the rowboat he made a quick, slanting dive overboard which brought him within a few feet of where the girl was floundering. He knew that Ruth was a fair swimmer and realized that something must be radically wrong if she could not keep herself afloat.
“Oh, Jack! Jack! Is that you?” gasped the girl. “Help me! My feet are all tangled up!”
“I’m coming, Ruth,” he reassured her. And then he yelled back to his cousin: “Fred, bring the boat up here, quick!”