The despairing boy saw the cascade just ahead and knew that, once over the falls made by the natural levee, he would be in the open river and beyond assistance. Still he swam, desperately, putting out his last ounce of strength. The lights from the boat did not shine brightly where he now was, and the turbulent river beyond looked dark and cold.
Then a white body struck against his back, there was a pull at his neck, and he knew that, slowly, surely, he was winning against the current. He realized that Captain Joe was holding him by the shoulder and, while half supporting him, swimming for dear life!
The boys on the Rambler watched the struggle helplessly. Captain Joe was doing more than either of them could have done. Now the swimmers gained a trifle, now they were swept nearer to where the flood tumbled over the levee. Captain Joe naturally drew toward the shore, and this at last brought them to safety.
After a long pull they came to a portion of the levee where heavy shrubs still resisted the rush of the water, and Alex grasped them and, after breathing for a minute, worked his way to the shore, Captain Joe still clinging to him, for the dog was well-nigh exhausted. Clay and Case set up great shouts when the two started up the bank of the swollen pool.
They would still have to swim to gain the Rambler, but this was not at all risky, as there was little current between the bank and the boat. Indeed, if Alex had kept to this part of the expanse of water instead of swimming out into the current after the paper, he would have had no trouble in returning, and Captain Joe would have had no opportunity to show both his loyalty and his intelligence.
When the two clambered up on the deck of the Rambler they met with a reception which disclosed the affection that existed between the boys. They shook Alex by the hands, and the shoulders, and called him “a great dunce” for swimming out into the current, and then shook hands all over with him again! And Captain Joe was petted and fondled to his heart’s content. Even Teddy, the bear, threw his short arms about the neck of the big white bulldog and gave him a hug!
“Don’t you ever think he doesn’t know all about it!” Clay explained. “Teddy was just as anxious as any of us, and I thought I heard him scolding when you struck out into the middle of the flood. Captain Joe was positively disgusted then!”
“Was it hard to get him into the water?” asked Alex.
“Hard to get him into the water!” cried Case. “Why, he was in before we knew anything about his intentions. That is some dog!”
Rain was still falling, and the boys decided to build a great fire in the coal heater and sit by it until morning. Should the river continue to rise, they thought, they would make the attempt to ran the rapids.