"There the boat goes, the sail caught by a cross current of air!" called Midshipman Dalzell almost furiously.
The girls aboard the sailboat now cried out in alarm as they felt the extreme list of the boat under them. All too late Midshipman Gray Sprang for the sheet to ease it off.
Too late! In another moment the sailboat had capsized, the mast nearly snapping in the blow over.
"Make haste—-do!" cried Mrs. Meade, rising in the steamer.
But the steamer was already under increased headway, and the helmsman had to make but a slight turn to bear down directly to the scene of the disaster.
Three midshipmen could be seen floundering in the water, each steadily supporting the head of a girl. But the fourth, midshipman was floundering about wildly. Then he disappeared beneath the water.
"That young man has given up and gone down!" cried Mrs. Meade, whom Dave had just persuaded to resume her seat.
"No," Dave assured her. "Gray isn't drowning. But his girl companion is missing, and he has dived to find her."
"Then the girl is lost!" quivered Mrs. Meade.
"No; I think not. Gray is a fine swimmer, and will find Miss
Butler before she has been under too long a time."