He was grinding away at the handle, paying no attention to the boat, or river, when suddenly a swirl of the current carried a big log directly against the bow of the craft. She was being headed slowly up stream, Joe working the motor only fast enough to maintain a slight headway.
There came a jar that shook the Clytie from stem to stern.
“Look out!” yelled Joe to Blake, but the warning came too late. The young moving picture operator shot overboard, into the muddy water, the camera clattering to the deck behind him.
CHAPTER XIX
A COLLISION
“Man overboard!” yelled Joe, more from a sudden instinct than because there was anyone beside himself on the boat to be informed of the fact. Then, with a leap, Joe was outside the pilot house, and standing in the bow of the still-moving craft.
Joe had caught up, in his rush, a cork life ring, attached to a rope, one being kept on the forward deck in readiness for any emergency in the flood. The young operator shoved the fallen camera to one side, and peered eagerly down for a sight of his chum.
“Here you go, Blake!” Joe cried, a hasty glance toward shore showing him two men coming in a rowboat, in response to his cries. “Here you go! Grab this!”
For he had a glimpse of Blake’s head emerging from the water.
Blake was a good swimmer, but he was handicapped by his clothes and shoes, and the fact that the current was rather swift.
The young operator shook his head, to rid his eyes of the blinding water, and then reached out for the ring which Joe tossed to him. He caught it in one hand, and then was quickly pulled toward the boat.