in plunged forward for it, until he saw one of his crew nearing
it ahead of him.

"Hold that as a life-buoy!" called Dave.

Hardly had he given this order when another midshipman made himself
heard, as he trod water.

The board was pushed toward him, while Dave made a rapid count.

"All up but Mr. Page;" muttered Dave, but even that thought made
him sick at heart.

Only a few moments had passed, but that was time enough for any
man to come to the surface if his buoyancy remained.

Darrin had paid no heed to Mr. Salisbury or the latter's engineer,
for he had seen them jumping for their life-preservers.

In the meantime the other boats of the sailing fleet were making
for the scene of the disaster. Yet, with the light breeze, that
was no easy thing to do. It would take some time yet to bring
the nearest of the sailing fleet to the scene.

Signals had been sprung to the steam-launch fleet, but the launches
were far down the bay, and many minutes must pass before relief
could be looked for from that quarter. Two or three of the
sailboats would, in fact, be at hand first.

Though there were some excellent swimmer among the wrecked
midshipmen, the best of these were already standing by midshipmen
who did not swim well. Dave Darrin was the only one free to go to
Page's assistance should he show up.

"Every man keep his eyes peeled for Mr. Page!" shouted Dave. "We
simply can't stand the loss of any member of the crew!"

"There's a hat!" cried Dan, a few moments later. "Can you make
it out, sir."

Dalzell was pointing further down the bay.

"A cap, yes," called Dave, striking out lustily for the spot.
"But I don't see any head there. Watch, all of you, and give
me a hail if you see Mr. Page's head show up anywhere."

Midshipman Farley was in agony over the thought of the loss of
his roommate. Yet Farley was at this time engaged in standing
by a less-skilled swimmer.

"That looks like a face, fifteen yards west from the cap!" shouted
one of the crew.

Dave Darrin made the greatest spring, he could up out of the water.
It gave him a chance for a better view.

"I see the face!" he roared back. "Look after yourselves. I'll
get in close to Mr. Page."

Dave swam as he had never done before, taking swift yet long,
powerful strokes. He reached the spot, only to see what he had
taken for a face sink slowly below the surface.

"That must be the second time going down!" throbbed Darrin, with
a feeling