"Here's our chance!" said Lorry. "If the Sprite hangs on as she's coming she'll pass close to us. Will you jump aboard her, Joe, or shall I?"
"I'll do it," answered the cowboy. "Can't you turn the launch and follow the Sprite, side by side with her? She'll travel faster than we will, but it'll make it easier to jump without going into the lake."
This manœuvre was carried out, and Lorry, who could handle a boat tolerably well for an amateur, brought the launch about and picked up the Sprite as she dashed onward.
McGlory cleared a foot of water at a flying leap and dropped into the Sprite's cockpit. In a few minutes he had checked the boat's aimless racing and had brought her to a halt.
"Is Matt there?" queried Lorry anxiously, working the launch close to the Sprite.
"He's here," answered McGlory, "but he's unconscious. Ping's here, too, and his wits are wool-gathering, same as Matt's. They're both alive, though, and I reckon they'll be all right with a little care."
"Follow me across the lake," said Lorry. "We'll go to the clubhouse. The quicker we can get a doctor, the better."
The first gray of dawn was just glimmering along the eastern edge of the sky as the two boats stood away for Madison.