"Dank you, Tom, you vos a goot feller. But vot you vos do to keep your neck varm, hey?"
"Here's a silk handkerchief, he can wear that," said Dick. "But I say, fellows," he went on. "I think we are mixed up now and no mistake."
"I am sure I am," answered Frank. "I haven't the least idea where the shore is."
"Nor I," came from Tom. "We'll have to go at it in a hit-or-miss fashion."
"No miss for me," put in Sam. "I am not prepared for a watery grave just now."
"We must be cautious," said Dick. "I've got an idea. Has anybody a rope with him?"
"I've got a heavy cord," answered Frank.
"Then let us tie that to each fellow's right wrist. Then we can string out in a line, like the Swiss mountain climbers, and if the boy in front gets into trouble the others can haul him out."
"Hurrah! Dick, has solved the problem of how the lost cadets are going to get to safety," cried Sam. "Let us have the cord by all means."
It was quickly produced and proved to be about forty feet in length. Dick tied himself fast to one end and Sam the other, and the others came between.