It's up forward in the port locker under the deck."

"Good. Now I'm going to tie a line around my waist, and go overboard.
I'll swim to that chap and get a good hold on him. Then it will be up
to you to pull us both in, if I can't swim with him, and I'm afraid I
can't do much in this sea. Can you haul us in, and manage the boat?"

"I've just _got_ to!" cried Andy, shutting his teeth in grim
determination. "The boat will ride all right out here. The wind isn't
quite so bad now. Take care of yourself."

"I will. Shake!"

The brothers clasped hands. Frank well knew the peril of his
undertaking, no less than did Andy. They stood on the heaving, sloping
deck of the _Gull_, and looked into each other's eyes. They understood.

"Watch close, and pull when you see me wave to you," ordered the older
lad, as he fastened the rope about his waist.

"All right," answered Andy, in a low voice.

With a quick glance about him, noting that the wounded lad was still
struggling feebly in the water, Frank dived overboard. He disappeared
beneath the green waves with their crests of foam, and for a moment
Andy anxiously watched for his brother. Then he saw him reappear, and
strike out strongly toward the other youth. Frank was an excellent
swimmer.

"That's the way to do it!" murmured Andy, admiringly. "If anybody can
save him, Frank can."

The younger lad was braced against the tiller, standing in a slanting
position, his feet planted firmly in the cockpit, while he payed out
the rope, one end of which was about Frank's waist, and the other made
fast to a deck cleat.

"To the left. To the left!" yelled Andy suddenly, as he saw his
brother taking a slightly wrong course. The spume in his eyes, and the
bobbing waves which now and then hid the wounded lad from sight, had
confused Frank. The latter made no reply, but his hand, raised above
the water, and waved to Andy, told that he understood the hail.

Frank changed his course, still swimming strongly. The wind had again
begun to blow hard, and the _Gull_ was drifting nearer the rocks, yet
Andy dared not send her out for fear of pulling Frank with him. He
must stand by until--

Carefully he payed out the line. He could see it slipping through the
green water. Then he caught a glimpse of his brother on the crest of a
wave. The next moment he saw how close he was to the lad he had so
bravely set out to save.

"Tread water! Don't swim! Tread water and save