"And not a skiff in sight!" exclaimed Tom.

"Oh, dear! The poor thing!" cried his sister. "She's being carried right
down the river. They'll never get her."

"Oh, Tom!" implored Ruth. "Hurry and start. _We must get that girl_!"

"Sure we will!" cried Tom Cameron.

He was already out of the car and madly turning the crank. In a moment the
engine was throbbing. Tom leaped back behind the wheel and the automobile
darted ahead.

The rough road led directly along the verge of the river bank. The
picture-play actors scattered as he bore down upon them. It gave Tom, as
well as the girls, considerable satisfaction to see the director, Grimes,
jump out of the way of the rapidly moving car.

The friends in the car saw the actress, whom Grimes had called both
"Hazel" and "Miss Gray," swirled far out from the shore; but they knew the
current or an eddy would bring her back. She sank once; but she came up
again and fought the current like the plucky girl she was.

"Oh, Helen! she's wonderful!" gasped Ruth, with clasped hands, as she
watched this fight for life which was more thrilling than anything she had
ever seen reproduced on the screen.

Helen was too frightened to reply; but Ruth Fielding often before had
shown remarkable courage and self-possession in times of emergency. No
more than the excited Tom did she lose her head on this occasion.