“Go after him, Hurry! Save him!”
“Yes’m,” answered Dan, with a grin. Then over he went just as the engine was stopped, and just as Tom came up sputtering some twenty yards away.
“Keep up!” called Dan. “I’ll save you!” And Aunt Louisa, watching anxiously, couldn’t understand why the fellows laughed so uproariously. Tom, shaking his head to get the water from his eyes, turned and started toward the boat. But Dan wasn’t a life-saver for nothing.
“Don’t give up!” he called. “Fight hard! I’ll have you in a moment!”
“You ku-ku-ku-keep away from mu-mu-mu-me!” answered Tom.
“Saved!” shouted Dan, and then rescued and rescuer disappeared from sight.
“Oh!” shrieked Aunt Louisa, “they’re both drowning!”
And every one else laughed harder than before.
Then up came Dan’s head, and up came Tom’s, and a merry struggle took place. Dan insisted on pulling Tom back to the launch by the back of his sweater, and Tom refused.
“Lu-lu-lu-let mu-mu-mu-me alone, you, i-i-i-idiot!” he protested.