prow of the boat, and swinging it within reach of his hands, drew it out
of the water.

The soldiers gazed at the stranded boys in perplexity. There seemed no
chance of rescuing them. They knew of no other boat nearer than the next
government post, nor would a raft be of use at the head of the roaring
fall. The stream was too deep for wading and too near the plunge for
swimming. The corporal quickly mounted the mule and rode to the fort to
report the lads' plight to the commanding officer.

As soon as possible an ambulance containing the officers and Mrs.
Maloney started for the river. They brought some tools, a spare oar, and
several coils of rope. A few moments later nearly all the men of the
garrison not on duty lined the southern shore. Mrs. Maloney's worst
fears seemed to be realized when she saw her son clinging helplessly to
the snag in mid-stream. Her anguish was heart-rending.

"Ah, Teddy b'y!" she screamed, oblivious to the fact that he could not
hear her voice above the roar of the water, "don't ye let go the tray,
darlint! Howld on till hilp gets t' yez!"

But how to get to them, or to get anything to them, was a serious
question. The soldiers were brave and willing men, but they did not
possess the skill of river-drivers nor the appliances and tools of the
craft. If the boys were only a mile farther up stream, clear of the
rapids, a score of swimmers could take lines out to them; or, for that
matter, the boys could swim ashore without assistance. The close
vicinity of the snag to the plunging and tumultuous descent in the river
made all the difference.

Experiment after experiment was tried. Several brave fellows in turn
tied the end of the rope to their waists and swam out; but the current
pulling at the slack between them and the shore drew them back. Another
went far up stream and swam out, while the shore end of the rope was
carried down by comrades at the same rate as the flow of the current. He
succeeded in grasping the snag; but the instant he paused the titanic
force of the water tore him away, burying him beneath the surface. He
was drawn ashore nearly drowned.

The commanding officer was about to send to the fort for material for a
raft and an anchor, when his attention was called to the boy on the jam.
After the failure of the last attempt to rescue his friend, Reddy was
seen to approach the boat and launch it. He then drew it to the end of
the log previously mentioned, held it by the stern