The water into which the Cubs had fallen was well over their heads. Weighted down by shoes and clothing, they churned the surface in a frantic effort to keep up.
Ross, an expert swimmer, seized one of the Cubs and towed him ashore.
Mr. Hatfield and Midge’s father both plunged in to assist others to safety.
Two of the Cubs grasped the side of the raft and were pulled aboard by the frightened Jabowski.
Meanwhile, on shore, Dan had kicked off his shoes, ready to help.
“Where’s Tim Tyler?” he shouted.
Tim was the youngest and smallest member of Den 1. Also, as all the boys knew, he was the only Cub who had never learned to swim a stroke.
In the darkness there now was no glimpse of the boy. He was neither on the raft nor anywhere visible in the water.
“He was aboard when the raft upset,” Dan cried. “I saw him just before it went over. Maybe he’s pinned underneath!”
Without waiting for others to act, the boy made a clean dive from the end of the dock. With the speed of a bullet he shot beneath the raft.