“What’s keeping them in view got to do with it?” shouted Gran “They will drown anyway if we don’t hurry and get them out. Let me go in after them. I’m a good swimmer, really I am. Let me go in and get Alex and Captain Joe can save himself. See there! Alex is going under. Let go of me!”
The loyal youngster would indeed have leaped into the river if Clay had not caught him. Case was equally unreasonable, and wanted to send the Rambler straight over the struggling figures. Clay caught up the long rope which he had prepared to attach to Captain Joe and tied it about his waist. Then he took another rope and wound it about his neck and shoulders. Case and Gran looked on in wonder and impatience.
“Now,” Clay explained, “I’m going to swing the boat in a wide circle and meet that precious trio as we pass up the stream. When we get almost to them, you, Case, take the helm, and you, Gran, catch on the ends of these lines. Do you both understand, now—are you ready?”
The boat had swung around while the boy was explaining, and Alex the bear cub, and Captain Joe were clearly revealed, just ahead, in the glare of the strong searchlight. The cub, forgetting all fear of the canine in the greater danger it was in, had climbed half way up on the dog’s back, and the dog was swimming for dear life. Alex had caught an oar as the boat swept away, and was calmly floating, well sustained by the wood.
“S-a-a-y,” cried Case, almost choking with laughter when he saw that Alex was in no immediate danger. “Can you people down there keep that pose while I take a picture of you? That’s great! G-r-e-a-t!”
Clay now saw that there was no pressing necessity for him to take a cold bath just then, as Alex would be able to catch the line if it could be trailed near enough to him. Later, he thought, some one might have to go in in order to rescue Captain Joe, who was paddling along like a major, with no expressed objections to the load of bear cub he was carrying on his back. Case explained to the others that the only reason the dog did not protest was because he was afraid he would get his mouth full of water if he engaged in any conversation regarding the riparian rights of the bear. Gran alone looked grave in the emergency.
Presently the line was thrown and Alex seized it deftly and proceeded hand-over-hand to the side of the boat. Captain Joe made greater efforts, trying to keep to his side, but the current was too strong. Clay dropped the Rambler down as the dog fell away, and Alex instead of mounting to the deck of the boat, caught the dog by the collar and held on to him.
The cub bear did not take so kindly to this, for he snapped at the boy’s hand, and Alex gave him a slight tap on the nose in return.
Case dropped his extra line to Alex with instructions to tie it to Captain Joe’s collar. This was done, not without difficulty, for the dog did not understand what was going on, and the bear cub made it his business to attack the boy, so all three went under water more than once before the feat was accomplished. Then Clay drew on the line and Captain Joe went up serenely with the bear still on his back. The lads on the deck were shouting with laughter, for the dog was now complaining at carrying the cub.
In a moment Alex grabbed the cub, tucked it, in spite of protests, under one arm, and was assisted, spluttering and dripping, to the deck of the bear and all. Captain Joe, on his arrival on deck, at once shook water over Clay and then gave his attention to the cub, but the boys drove him off and hustled the baby bear into a warm corner by the heater.