e strongest effort of the will that he could make, Darrin
steadied himself and forced his eyes once more open.

Drifting toward him, two feet above his head, was what looked like
another shadow. It came closer.

At the first thought Darrin was inclined not to believe his senses.

"I'll have to go up, after all, and let Dan have his chance. I'm
seeing things," Dave decided.

For, though the object floating toward him had some of the semblance
of a skirt-clad figure, yet it looked all out of proportion---perhaps
twice the size of Pauline Butler.

That was a trick of the scanty light coming through the water
at an angle---this coupled with Darrin's own fatigue of the eyes.

Closer it came, and looked a bit smaller.

"It is a girl---a woman---some human being!" throbbed Dave internally.

Now, though his head seeming bursting, Dave hung on more tightly
than ever. The drift of the water was bringing the body slowly
nearer to him. He must hold on until he could let himself strike
upward, seizing that body in his progress.

At last the moment arrived. Dave felt a hard tug at the cable,
but he did not at that instant realize that Dan Dalzell had just
started down from the steamer.

Dave judged that the right instant had come. He let go of the
loop, and was shot upward. But, as he moved, his spread arms
caught hold of the floating figure.

Up to within a few feet of the surface Darrin and his burden moved
easily. Then he found it necessary to kick out hard with his
feet. Thus he carried the burden clear, to the open air above,
though at a distance of some forty feet from the steamer.

"There they are!" Farley's voice was heard calling, and there
was a splash.

"Bully for you, old fellow! Hold her up, and I'm with you!" hailed
Midshipman Farley.

In another moment Dave Darrin had been eased of his human burden,
and Farley was swimming to the steamer with the senseless form
of Pauline Butler.

Darrin tried to swim, and was astounded at finding himself so
weak in the water. He floated, propelling himself feebly with
his hands, completely exhausted.

Just at that moment nearly every eye was fixed on Farley and his
motionless burden, and many pairs of hands stretched out to receive
them.

Yet the gaze of one alert pair of eyes was fixed on Darrin, out
there beyond.

"Now, you'd better look after Dave," broke in the quiet, clear
voice of Belle Meade. "I think he needs help."

Wolgast went over the