ir might away from the bridge.

But despite their efforts they could not get out of the danger zone in
time. A heavy piece of timber struck the side of the boat, crushing it
in and throwing the occupants into the water.

Frank and Billy came to the surface a moment later and shook the water
from their eyes. They looked about for Bart, but he was not to be seen.

Instantly Frank dived, searching frantically for his chum. His arm
came in contact with someone's hair. He grasped it and drew the body
to the surface.

It was Bart, but he was unconscious. The timber that had smashed the
boat had caught him a glancing blow on the head and stunned him.

Frank held his comrade's face above the water and shouted to Billy, who
also had been searching and had just come up. He swam to Frank's side
and helped him in bearing up Bart.

They found a floating plank, over which they placed Bart's arms and
then with Frank holding on to Bart's body and Billy guiding the plank
they struck out for the nearer shore.

They had been nearer the American than the German side when the
explosion took place. But the current was bearing strongly toward the
German side and they had been carried some distance by it while they
were taking care of Bart. The consequence was that, while they thought
that the nearer bank was that held by their own troops, it was the
German side towards which they were moving with their unconscious
burden.

They were within a few feet of the shore at some distance below where
the bridge had stood, when Frank's quick ear heard the sound of voices
speaking in German. At first he thought it was probably some of the
prisoners whom the American troops had captured. But a moment later he
recognized a dilapidated fishing pier that he had often gazed at from
his own side of the river, and the truth burst upon him.

They were on the wrong side of the river! If Bart had been in the same
condition as Billy and himself, their situation, though dangerous,
would not have been desperate. They were all strong swimmers and
although fearfully tired from their exertions would have been able to
swim across to comrades and safety.

But it was another matter with Bart unconscious. Frank did not know
what had caused his friend's injury. Perhaps he had been shot. At
this very moment, for all Frank knew, his chum might be bleeding to
death. Above all things he wanted to find dry land, where he could
examine his chum and ren