The girl's eyes merely fluttered, though, as a slight sigh escaped her. The eyelids fell again, and there was but a trace of motion at the pulse.
"We mustn't lose the poor child, now that we've succeeded in proving a little life there," cried Mrs. Meade anxiously.
"Now, that's what I call a reflection on the skill of Dr. Farley," protested that midshipman in mock indignation. It was necessary, at any amount of trouble, to keep these women folks on fair spirits until Annapolis was reached. Then, perhaps, many of them would faint.
All of the dry jackets of midshipmen aboard had been thrown protectingly around the girls who had been in the water.
"Torpedo boat ahead, sir," reported the helmsman.
"Give her the distress signal to lie to," directed Dave.
The engine's whistle sent out the shrieking appeal over the waters. The destroyer was seen to heave about and come slowly to meet the steamer.
Long before the two craft had come together Dave Darrin was standing, holding to one of the awning stanchions, for he was not yet any too strong.
"Destroyer, ahoy!" he shouted as loudly as he could between his hands. "Have you a surgeon aboard?"
"Yes," came back the answer.