"It's a long way out there, my boy, and you might take a cramp," said
Longley.

"But I'm willing to try it, sir. Besides, the rest of you could be
heading for Cragan's fish house, and seeing if he's around. I know
that little chap, and he's the idol of his daddy's heart. It'll nigh
about kill Amiel if the kid was drowned."

Even while he was speaking Larry had kicked one shoe off, and was
working to undo the stubborn lace of the other, which of course had to
get in a snarl as usual, exciting his nervous disposition to the
utmost, as he tugged away.

"Hold on! I'm afraid it's going to be too late!" exclaimed the other
occupant of the touring car, still keeping his eyes glued to the
smaller end of the marine glasses.

"Oh! is he going to fall in, sir?" gasped Elephant, in a quiver of
fear, as he shaded his eyes with both hands, and stared out across that
glowing stretch of water.

"There! he has done it!" cried the other; and all of them saw what
seemed to be a faint splash alongside of the drifting skiff. "No,
strange to say the little fellow has caught hold of the gunnel of the
boat; and while his body is in the lake, he continues to hold on
desperately, just keeping his head above the surface! But it can't
last, it can't last! He could not keep up that grip more than a minute
at the most! This is terrible; and all of us so helpless to save the
child!"

He took the glasses down as though really unable to watch any longer.
But his companion did not seem to feel the same way, for he immediately
snatched them out of Mr. Marsh's hand, and clapped them to his eyes.

"No use, boy, thinking of swimming out yonder," said Mr. Marsh, seeing
that Larry had finally broken the obstinate lace, and kicked the shoe
into the bushes. "Long before you could get near the boat it would all
be over. If anything is to be done, some one else will have to
engineer the rescue."

"And it's coming," shouted the other, just then. "Watch the biplane,
Marsh! The boys have seen the danger of the child! They are headed
for the drifting boat, and darting down again. Perhaps they mean to
alight in the water alongside, and pick the little chap up! Good!
Another ten seconds, and they will have arrived on the spot!"

Even Larry, barefooted now, and with both hands tightly clenched, such
was his wrought-up condition, stood and watched with burning eyes as
the aeroplane sank lower and lower in its forward swoop. Undoubtedly
the Bi