Then a doctor, who had been in readiness to give aid in case the rescue was made in time, came up to minister to both of those who seemed to have come back from the edge of a watery grave.
CHAPTER XXIV
NEW HOPE
Joe's first realization, after he had regained his nearly spent breath and accepted a blanket which he wrapped around him, was that Helen was standing near him, holding his hand.
"Oh, Joe!" she murmured. "I am so glad—so glad—and proud of you!"
He smiled, rather a weak smile it is true, but it was a smile.
"Better look out," he said. "I'll get you wet."
"I don't care," she replied.
"She wouldn't go away," said Mr. Blair, who had Joe's other hand and was vigorously shaking it. "I tried to make her go when—when four minutes passed and you didn't come up. We thought maybe you were caught fast, too."
"Was I down four minutes?" asked Joe.