"Come, we must save him, Tom!"

"Yes, yes," was the puffing answer, for Tom was swimming as never
before, and for a brief instant he remembered that awful
adventure Sam had had at Humpback Falls, the summer previous. At
that time the youngest Rover had nearly lost his life in the
water.

It was Dick who gained the spot first, just as Sam came up and
went down again -- totally unconscious. Diving, the elder Rover
caught his brother around the chest, under the arms.

"Sam, Sam, what is it?" he questioned, and as no reply came back
his heart almost stopped beating. What if his brother was dead?
The agony of the thought was terrible beyond description.

"Can I help you?" The question came from Tom, who was now at the
side of the others.

"Catch hold of one arm, if you will," answered Dick. "He's a
dead weight."

"Oh!" The moan came so unexpectedly that both Tom and Dick were
amazed. Then of a sudden Sam opened his eyes and clutched Dick
by the throat. "Save me!"

Clearly the youngest Rover was out of his mind or he would not
have taken such a hold. As it was, Dick was nearly strangled and
had to unlock the fingers by sheer force. Then Sam grabbed him
again, and it looked as if both would go down to a watery grave.