t was not going to be an easy job to be transferred from the canoe.
There was still greater danger ahead than anything they had yet
experienced. The approach of the launch in the rough sea would almost
surely upset the canoe. The boys realized that too. They slowed up
and circled the boat, gradually coming closer. It took all of Bet's
strength to hold it.

Phil knew that to try to swim toward them would be foolish in the
storm. Then an idea came to him. He spoke to Bob and he brought the
launch near the canoe again.

Kit was bailing water for all she was worth, but keeping her eyes on
the motor boat at the same time. Then as the boat came near she saw
something flung toward her, something that the mountain girl understood
and knew how to handle. A rope! With quick practiced reach, she
caught it.

"Put it around your waist, Kit. They can never tow us in this storm."
Bet's teeth were chattering now.

Kit quickly made a loop and fastened it around Bet's waist. "Now Bet,
you're safe," she cried. "And I'll hold on to you."

The motor boat had drifted away from them but again Bob brought it
alongside. Another rope was flung toward them, but the wind sent it
flying backward.

"If I could only have jumped for it!" thought Kit, but she knew that
any movement might mean destruction.

Four times Phil threw the rope before Kit caught it and fastened it
about herself.

Bet, knowing that they were safe, may have relaxed her efforts, or
perhaps the very end of her strength had been reached. The canoe took
a wave side-on and turned completely over.

Kit struggled, gulped and swallowed as the cold water covered her and
she felt herself being drawn toward the boat. But Bet did not remember
anything of the plunge.

They were still in danger, for it needed Bob and Phil to raise the two
girls over the side of the launch, and it looked at times as if the
motorboat would be swallowed up. The little canoe was left, to be
tossed about on the waves.

When the motor again purred and the boat had headed toward the shore,
the two girls were in the bottom of the launch. Bet lay there deathly
white and showed no sign of life. Kit was sobbing and shaking and was
no possible help to the boy, who was trying to revive the still figure
of the plucky girl.

The wind subsided as quickly as it had come and by the time the motor
reached the dock, the storm was over. Phil lifted Bet in his arms and
carried her to the sand.