“Jump out after Jerry Upton!” he growled as he advanced upon Harry.
Without replying, Harry leaped up to defend himself. As he did this he saw that Jerry and Wash Crosby were fighting in the water.
Neither Crosby nor Peters had been hurt by the collision, both having left their craft before the steamboat struck it.
Their one thought now was to get the good row-boat away from our two heroes.
Jerry, thinking Wash Crosby seriously hurt, was taken completely by surprise.
Crosby caught him by the shoulder and forced him far under the water, and then did his best to hold him there.
Crosby was a powerful fellow, and he well understood what defeat and capture meant—a term in prison.
But, as we know, Jerry’s muscles were like iron, and his first surprise over, he went for Crosby tooth and nail.
With a powerful twist he freed himself from the rascal’s grasp and swam some distance away.
Then coming up behind Crosby, the young oarsman let out with his right fist.