With a final burst of speed he reached his companion. Steve threw out one hand and fastened on the other Iron Boy. As he did so the ring slipped from Jarvis's head and floated away.
Rush realized at once what had happened, and began upbraiding himself for his carelessness. The knowledge seemed to give him new strength. His body fairly leaped from the water as he took several powerful strokes toward the drowning Bob.
"Wake up!" cried Steve, shaking his companion roughly.
Jarvis mumbled in reply, and tried feebly to help himself, but he was too weak and too full of water to accomplish anything.
Steve, by a great effort, twisted his companion about and began swimming toward the ship with him.
Shouts and suggestions were hurled at him from the ship, but he did not hear them. The Iron Boy was making the fight of his life. At last, after mighty struggles, he managed to get near enough to the "Richmond" to catch a line that was tossed to him. This he quickly made fast about Jarvis's waist and waved a hand to indicate that the men above were to haul away.
Steve lay over on his back on the water with a great sigh of relief as the men began hauling the other boy toward the deck.
"Get a line over there to Rush!" thundered the captain. "Don't you see the boy is drowning?"
But Steve missed every line that was tossed to him. He was making powerful efforts to pull himself together sufficiently to save himself, but he could not do so.
"Take care of the child, Major. Keep pumping the water out of her. She'll be all right in a moment," cried the captain. "Give me a line, quick!"