"
While he was speaking he had contrived to slip the noose over the
shoulders and under the arms of his companion. As soon as this
had been done, he released his hold and said to Fred, "You can
keep her head out of the water anyway. If your noose holds she's
all right."
"What are you going to do?" demanded Fred.
"I'm all right," responded Grant as turning himself upon his back
he floated with the current and obtained a brief rest.
Meanwhile John and George had drawn Miss Susie Stevens to the
canoe and seized her by her hands. John had been seated in the
stern but now he stretched himself upon the bottom of the little
craft and reached over with his hands, one on each side of the
canoe, and held the girl up so that she was able to breathe,
although he did not attempt to draw her out of the water. "Take
your paddle," he called to George. "I've got her all right, but
make for the Black Growler. There's no knowing what will happen."
In this manner the canoe slowly was paddled toward the
motor-boat, but Fred was holding the rope by which the second
girl was held and consequently was unable to respond to the
appeal of his friends to come to their aid.
Meanwhile the motor-boat was drifting with the current and there
was grave danger that she might run aground on some one of the
numerous islands.
Indeed this was just what occurred a few minutes later.
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