," muttered Lester. "He ought to crouch
down and hold tight."

They were now not more than a hundred feet away, when suddenly a groan
went up from the boys.

A huge wave, cresting over the side, had caught the man on the motor
boat full in the chest and hurled him into the sea!

CHAPTER II

DRAGGED FROM THE SEA

"He's gone!" cried Teddy in horror.

"And with that shark around!" exclaimed Bill.

"There he is!" yelled Fred, as his straining eyes caught sight of a
white face and a struggling figure at a little distance.

"Stand by with the boat hooks," commanded Lester to Bill and Teddy, as
he gave the _Ariel_ a turn and bore down on the drowning man.

Those of our readers who have followed the adventures of the Rushton
boys, as told in the previous volumes of this series, entitled "The
Rushton Boys at Rally Hall" and "The Rushton Boys in the Saddle,"
already feel well acquainted with them and the other occupants of the
boat. Those who have not yet done so will need a word of introduction.

Fred and Teddy Rushton were the sons of Mansfield Rushton, a broker,
living in Oldtown and doing business in an adjacent city, to which he
commuted. He and his wife, Agnes, were devoted to their boys, and their
home was a type of all that is best and wholesome in American life.

An occasional disturbing element in it was the frequent presence of the
boys' uncle, Aaron Rushton, who was a crusty bachelor with little liking
for boys. He was constantly preaching the need of a firm hand in
bringing up his nephews and scolding his brother for his laxity in that
respect.

Fred, who was nearly sixteen, was a year older than Teddy. Both were
alert and vigorous young Americans, bright in their studies and fond of
athletic sports. Teddy was impulsive and given to playing practical
jokes, and a large part of Fred's time was taken up in getting his
brother out of trouble.

One of Teddy's jokes caused a runaway in which their Uncle Aaron nearly
came to grief. He escaped personal injury, but lost his watch and some
valuable papers, and he was so angry that at last the boys' parents sent
them to Rally Hall, a boarding school recommended by Mr. Aaron Rushton
because its discipline was very strict.

The boys enjoyed themselves hugely at Rally Hall, for the year was
crowded with fun and adventure. They had enemies as well as warm
friends, and Fred had to thrash Andy Shanks, a bully who tried to put on
him the theft of some examin