s though it must be
cast upon the beach. Helen raised herself stiffly, seized the pole more
firmly, and prepared to leap ashore with its aid.

And just as she was about to risk the feat, the bow of the boat whirled
outward again, she was almost cast into the water, and once more the
boat whirled down the middle current.

She dropped back into her seat with a gasp. This was terrible! She could
not possibly control the craft in the rapids, and she was traveling
faster and faster.

The boat came to another eddy, and was whirled around and around, so
swiftly, that Helen's poor head swam, too! She raised her voice in a cry
for help, but it was likewise a cry of despair. She had no idea that
there was a soul within the sound of her voice.

Crash! the boat went against an outcropping rock. It spun around again
and darted down the current. It was leaking now; the water poured into
it between the sprung planks.

The river widened suddenly into a great pool, fringed with trees. At one
point a rock was out-thrust into the river and Helen saw--dimly enough
at first--a figure spring into view upon this boulder.

"Help! help!" shrieked the girl, as the boat spun about.

"Hi! catch that!"

It was dear old Tom's voice! The shout brought hope to Helen's heart.

"Oh, Tom! Tom!" she cried. "Save me!"

"Bet you I will!" returned the boy. "Just grab this rope----Now!"

She saw the loop come hurtling through the air. Tom had learned how to
properly throw a lariat the summer before, while in Montana, and he and
his particular chums had practised the art assiduously ever since that
time.

Now, at his second trial, he dropped the noose right across the punt.
Helen seized upon it.

"Hitch it to the ring in the bow--quick!" commanded her brother, and
Helen obeyed.

In five minutes he had her ashore, but the punt sunk in shallow water.

"I don't care! I don't care!" cried Helen, wading through the shallow
water. "I really thought I was going to drown, Tommy boy."

"But where's Ruth? Whatever have you girls been doing since last
evening? Where did you go to?"

He held her in his arms for a moment and hugged her tightly. Helen
sobbed a little, with her face against his shoulder.

"Oh! it's so-o good to have you again, Tommy," she declared.

Then she told him swiftly all that had happened. Tom was mighty glad to
get his sister back, but he was vastly worried about her chum.

"That's what I feared. I had a feeling that you gir