What can be done? Lady Ruth must be taken aboard. Her strength is almost gone, and John, in deadly fear lest one of the hungry waves should tear her away before their very eyes, passes an arm around her waist.
He takes in the situation.
"Here, you!" to the already wet boatman, "tumble overboard, quick now. We can hold on behind, I reckon."
The man hesitates, and this is a bad time for deliberation.
Professor Sharpe suddenly seizes upon him, and in almost the twinkling of an eye has the fellow overboard, more through a quick movement than any show of strength.
"There's a boat from the steamer coming this way. Hail it, Philander!" exclaims Aunt Gwen, and this gives them new life.
Lady Ruth is now taken into the boat with some degree of caution.
Sir Lionel shows no sign of life, and both ladies are extremely solicitous about him, so the professor bends down to make a cursory examination.
"He'll be all right when the water is pumped out of him," he announces.
The boat from the steamer comes up, led to the spot by Philander's shrill whoops, and the men in the water are rescued.