dden cry of alarm
and terror went up from the throng.

"Look--look there! Two girls have broken through the ice! They will
be drowned!"

At a certain point in the pond there was a dangerous bit of ice, where
some springs deep down at the bottom continually bubbled up and kept
the water alive, so the ice did not form solidly. It was supposed that
every one knew where this dangerous spot was, so no sign had been
placed there.

Now, however, two girls had ventured upon it, and broken through.

"Who are they?"

"Inza Burrage and May Blossom!"

"Save them! save them!"

Several started toward the imperiled girls, but two forms darted out
ahead of the rest, and another race between Paul Rains and Frank
Merriwell had begun.

This time it was a race for life.

Shoulder to shoulder they started, and, for some seconds, they kept
thus.

Then Frank began to forge ahead, for all that Paul was straining every
muscle--was doing the very best that he could to save life.

The girls were seen clinging to the broken edge of the ice, which broke
beneath them once or twice, but they managed to keep up in some way.

Wider and wider grew the distance between Merriwell and Rains, showing
that the former was by far the faster skater in such a case as this.

As Frank drew near the girls, the ice broke again, and both went under.

He did not slacken speed, but, taking care to avoid them, skated
straight into the water.

Clinging to each other, the girls came up; but they would have sunk
again immediately if he had not been there to clutch them.

Treading water, he held them up, getting close to the ragged edge of
the ice.

The water was fearfully cold, but he managed to keep his head out,
knowing aid must come quickly.

Paul Rains slackened his speed as he came near the opening in the ice.

"Form a line--get hold of my feet!" he shouted.

Down upon his stomach he went, and he slid forward till he could reach
out and grasp one of the girls.

There he lay till another lad clutched his feet, and still others
grasped the feet of the one who had hold of Paul.

"Now, Merriwell," said Paul, "if you can break their clutch on each
other, we can take 'em out one at a time."

With some difficulty the grasp of the half-drowned girls was broken.
Paul held fast to one, and shouted:

"Pull away!"

He was drawn backward, and the girl was dragged from the water upon the
ice.

Quickly she was passed to some one who carried her