"Sakes alive, but this water is cold!" cried Jack. "If we stay in it much longer we'll be getting the cramps. Let's make for the shore."
"All right! Go ahead; I'm after you," replied Frank.
Jack accordingly turned his face shoreward, and, trying the side stroke now, was making pretty good progress, having got about half-way in, when a cry from Frank, who was a few yards behind, made him stop suddenly and wheel round to see what was the matter.
"Come here, Jack," said Frank, in a troubled voice.
And Jack immediately went back to him.
"What's the matter, old chap?" asked he anxiously
"Why," answered Frank, "I seem to be losing all my strength. See! I can hardly take a stroke."
And, sure enough, his strength seemed to have left him. and instead of the wide, powerful sweeps he usually made, he could manage to do little more than paddle enough with his hands to keep his head afloat.
The fact of the matter was that he had been seized with muscular cramp, and was in great danger, for there was no boat in sight, and the shore lay nearly fifty yards away, with water deep enough between to swallow an ocean steamer.
Jack fully realized the danger, but was too sensible to say so. Taking a firm, grasp of Frank's right shoulder with his left hand, he said cheerily,—