ws of the
occurrence.

"The anchor seems to be caught under one of its flippers," said Paul.
"That's why it's towing us. Probably the manatee wants to get rid of us
as much as you girls want to get rid of it."

"I hope it doesn't get away for a few minutes!" called out Russ. "This
will make a dandy film!"

Much reassured now by the gentle movements of the manatee, Ruth lost
nearly all of her fear. Alice really had felt very little.

"I thought it surely was an alligator," the latter said, as the boat
continued to be towed by the manatee.

"Nebber knowed one ob dem t'ings t' come so far up de ribber," declared
one of the colored men. "He's a big one, too!" he added, as his eyes
bulged.

"How large is it, Russ?" asked Paul. "You can see better than we can."

"Oh, about twelve feet long, I guess. There, I got a good view of him
then!" he cried, as the manatee, probably in an effort to get rid of the
rope, rose partly from the water.

"Oh, what a horrid looking thing!" cried Ruth.

"I don't think so at all," Alice said. "I wish I could see it from in
front."

She had her wish a moment later, and it was rather more than she
bargained for since the sea cow, in an effort to get rid of the rope that
was twisted about its flipper, turned about with a swirl in the water,
not unlike that made by the propeller of a motor boat, and came head-on
for the craft it was unwittingly towing.

"Oh, it will upset us!" cried Ruth.

"Never mind! They don't bite, and we'll rescue you!" Russ reassured her.

"Oh, I--I'd die, sure, if I were to be thrown into the water with that
terrible creature!" gasped Ruth, clinging to Alice for protection.

And there did seem some likelihood of the manatee upsetting the boat, not
so much through a vindictive spirit, as by accident, and because of its
huge bulk.

On it surged toward the craft, and Paul, seizing an oar, prepared to
attack. Russ called to his rowers to be ready to rescue the girls and the
young actor if necessary, and then, with the desire for a good film ever
uppermost in his mind, he continued to grind away at the camera crank.

"This will be a peach of a film!" he exulted.

"Oh, Paul! Is it going to attack us?" asked Ruth.

Paul did not answer, but jabbed with his oar at the manatee and struck it
on the head. The sea cow dived, and this produced the desired result, for
the rope slipped off its flipper, and it was free. It went under the
boat, rubbed along on the keel wi