r with a shock and clung to each
other in something like panic. And, so struggling, both dipped under
water for a moment.

But when they came up, Nancy held her chum off, and cried:

"Don't do that again, Jennie! If you have to dip, hold your nose. Let's
not lose our heads about this. We've got to swim for it!"

"Swim!" gasped Jennie Bruce. "I feel as if there was a ton of lead
around my legs. I can't kick any more than the mule could with his legs
tied!"

"Get rid of the skirts," said Nancy, struggling to unfasten her own.
"You can do it--if you try. There! mine's gone."

"Oh, my--blub! blub! blub!" came from poor Jennie, as she went under.

Nancy reached and caught her by the hair. Both their caps had floated
away. She dragged her chum to the surface and held her until she got her
breath again.

Meanwhile Nancy was trying to undo the fastenings of Jennie's clothes;
and she succeeded after a time.

"Oh, dear, me!" she gasped. "I never wished to be a boy so much
before."

"Well, even a boy would find himself somewhat mussed up here in the
middle of the river," sobbed Jennie.

"But he'd have a knife in his pocket, and could cut his clothing off,"
returned Nancy, with some vigor.

In these few moments that they had been out of the boat the current, of
course, had carried them down stream. But now, partially relieved of
their clinging garments, they wanted to strike out for shore. But which
shore?

"I believe we're nearer the westerly side," said Jennie.

"If we swim over there we won't know where to go to dry off and get
clothes. And there'll be an awful time at the school," said Nancy.

Just then the horn at the boathouse sounded mournfully across the water.
It was first call for the scattered boats to return--half-past eight. If
all the girls were not in by nine they had to explain the reason to Miss
Etching.

"Well, then, shall it be the boathouse?" queried Jennie.

"We've drifted a long way below it. See! there's the bend," said Nancy,
rising to look. "Let's make for the nearest point on that side."

"Come on, then!" said Jennie, and side by side, but heavily, the two
girls struck out.

Neither was quite sure that she could swim that far under the present
conditions. Yet they were too plucky to say so to each other.

For at least five minutes they plugged away and then Nancy, rising up
again, uttered a startled exclamation.

"What's the matter?" demanded Jennie.

"Why! we're _below_ the poi