e other, and they
proceeded in the direction of the floating propellers. As they passed
the boy's boat, the girls spoke loudly of "some one losing his oars,"
but even this did not arouse him.

"Maybe we'll have to row him home," said Grace. "He doesn't look as if
he cared much whether he ever gets back to land or not."

It took but a few moments to get his oars, and again the girls turned up
stream.

"Who is going to give them to him," asked Louise, with a foolish giggle.

"We are noble scouts--we are!" mocked Cleo. "Mine be the task! A-hem!"
and here a fit of laughter spoiled the proposed effect.

"Here are your oars!" called Grace, before the others could realize what
she was about. But no boy answered.

"Say!" yelled Margaret, taking courage from Grace. "Say, boy! Here are
your oars!" Still no answer.

Louise took an oar and gave the drifting boat a vigorous shove.

At this the boy did look up, and for a moment he seemed to comprehend;
then he jumped up so suddenly he toppled over into the water between the
two boats!

"Oh, mercy!" cried the girls, in one voice.

"The river is deep enough here!" exclaimed Louise. "Give him an oar to
climb on."

A sudden scream from the boy in the water brought the melancholy news
that he could not swim! His boat drifted off as quickly as it was freed
from his weight, and the girls were not quite near enough to reach him.

"Hurry, hurry!" begged Louise, who was now rowing. "He may sink, then
what would he do?"

But the boy was splashing around making a brave attempt to keep up, and
really doing so by the flat handed action with which he patted the
water.

All embarrassment was now forgotten, as the scouts pulled up carefully
to where the boy was just bobbing up and down, each movement adding to
his peril.

"Climb in!" commanded Louise as they reached him. But he could scarcely
put his hand to the oar, and the girls noticed his face was blue white.

"Oh, dear me!" cried Julia, "he is fainting or something," and nervous
though she was, it was she who managed to get the first grip on the
weakened boy.

It was no easy matter to get him into the boat; he was struggling and
gasping for breath, and could make very little effort to help himself.
Finally, when all four girls had succeeded in keeping the boat balanced
and dragging him into it, he gave one painful gasp, closed his eyes, and
sank into unconsciousness.

CHAPTER VII

A DIFFICULT SITUATION

"WHERE