"Take hold of the life preserver!" called out half a hundred people at once. Then several other cries rang out.
At last the motion of the water washed the life preserver up against Bob Bangs' arm. He clutched at it desperately. By this time the steamboat had come to a standstill, and it was an easy matter for Randy and Jones to pull the rich youth towards the vessel. Then a rope ladder was lowered and Bob Bangs came up to the deck, dripping with water.
"Well, young man, you had a narrow escape," said Captain Hadley, as he pushed his way through the crowd to the spot.
"I know it, and it's all your fault!" whined Bob Bangs.
"My fault? Nonsense!"
"You ran me down! I'll have the law on you for it."
"Don't talk like a fool, young man. I was in the wheelhouse myself with the pilot and saw just how you acted. Evidently you don't know much about handling boats."
"I know all about them," insisted the rich youth. But this was a falsehood, as Randy well knew. Bob could row and that was about all.
"You'll have to pay for smashing my boat," went on the rich boy, after a pause. "And you'll have to pay for wetting my new suit," he added, gazing ruefully at the natty outing suit he had donned but an hour before.