swim?" asked Phil.

"A little," answered Shirley, "But I know she could never get along in
rough water."

"Do hurry boys, we're terribly worried," urged Joy.

The boys were wearing bathing suits under their clothes and it only
took a moment for them to strip.

To add to the distress of the girls, Smiley Jim had arrived and was
racing up and down the sand barking in a long-drawn-out, mournful howl
toward the river. Shirley caught him by the collar.

"That's no way to do, Smiley. You can't help Bet that way! Quiet
down!" The dog was trembling in every limb. He'd ceased his howling
when the boys started out into the water.

With long-reaching arm strokes they cut the waves and sped toward the
launch that was moored a short distance from the shore.

It took only a few minutes to start the motor and as it headed toward
the channel, Phil said, "There they are, they're all right."

Then the rain came up the river as if it were a great grey curtain
shutting out the river and shore.

"Hurry Bob!" shouted Phil. "They're gone."

A moment later, he called again: "No, there they are. Go down stream a
little Bob, the current is running so strong that Bet can't keep it on
a straight course."

"We'll never get them in this storm!" groaned Bob, as the rain again
shut out the sight of the canoe. Drifting downward with the current,
they worked outward toward the middle of the river.

A flash of lightning pierced the grey sheet.

"I see them, Bob! Straight ahead!"

The canoe rose on a huge wave, seemed to stand on end, then disappeared.

"They're gone!" Phil closed his eyes to shut out the sight that he
feared he might have to see, two struggling figures in the water.

And at that same moment Bet thought that the canoe would never right
itself. Yet she held on, stubbornly. Her arms ached and every move
was agony. At times she thought that all her strength was gone and
that she would have to give up.

Help was coming! But would she be able to hold out until that boat
came? She was doing things mechanically now, without thought, and
instinct seemed to guide her to do the right thing.

"I think I see some one, Bet. Hold on for dear life! We'll win
yet!--There they are. Someone is coming, Bet!"

Bet did not raise her eyes from her work. She heard Kit's assurance
that help was near and for a second she felt faint again and giddy.

Even when she could hear the chug-chug of the motor, she realized that
i