CHAPTER XVI
NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON
"Oh, oh!" Betty almost sobbed, as they stumbled on over stumps and fallen logs. "If the boys can only get there in time—if they only can!"
As Allen was the first to start, so he was also the first to reach the water's edge. He was just in time to see two hands above the surface of the water—two hands clutching in anguish.
As he rid himself of his shoes in frantic haste, there was one thought and one only in his mind—to reach the helpless owner of those hands and bring her back to life and hope. He was sure it was a girl—those little appealing hands could belong to no other.
The next moment he was in the water, swimming desperately toward the point where he had seen the hands disappear.
Oh, he would never reach it! The water seemed to be some living thing, pushing him; driving him back to the shore in spite of himself! His muscles seemed weighted with lead, his sodden clothing dragged upon him mercilessly! Oh, he would never reach her in time—he couldn't!
Then a wild, hot thought flashed through his consciousness, searing it like a flame. Now was no time to say he could not! He must! He must! A life depended on his ability to reach that spot when the girl came to the surface again—if indeed she ever did. Ah, perhaps what he had seen had been the last time. Then he must dive, dive, dive until he found her, even though he lose his own life in the attempt.
But no—there right before him so near that he could almost touch it, a figure rose to the surface, struggling faintly.
With one supreme effort Allen forged ahead and grasped the skirt of the girl's bathing suit as she sank for the last time beneath the surface.