sman, rushing back
to his post and ringing the bell. Thus recalled to his post,
the engineer turned on the speed.
The craft made swiftly for Hiram Driggs' float. A few moments
later it ran alongside.
Warned by the whistle, Driggs and two of his workmen came running
out to the float.
"Get a barrel as quickly as you can!" shouted young Prescott.
By the time Dalzell had been hustled ashore the barrel was in
readiness. Dan received an energetic rolling. Three or four
little gushes of water issued from his mouth.
"Keep up the good work," ordered Dick feverishly. "We'll bring
him around soon."
When they saw that no more water was coming from Dalzell's mouth
the workers placed him in a sitting position, then began to pump-handle
his arms vigorously.
A tremor ran through the body of Danny Grin.
"Hurrah!" cried Dick. "He's going to open his eyes!"
This Dan did a few moments later. "Keep on working his arms,"
commanded Prescott.
"Quit!" begged Dalzell in a faint whisper. "You're hurting me."
"Good enough!" chuckled Dick. "Keep on at his arms until he can
talk a whole lot more."
"But isn't it cruel?" asked a girl.
"No," rejoined Tom Reade, turning to her. "Did you ever bring
a drowning man to?"
"Never, of course."
"Then let our Dick have his way. He generally knows what he's
about. No rudeness intended you understand," Reade added, smiling.
"This lad's all right, now," declared Hiram Driggs. "Help him
to his feet and walk him about a bit until he gets the whole trick
of breathing again. Dalzell, didn't you know any better than
to try to swallow the whole river and ruin my business?"
A faint grin parted Dan's lips.
"Oh, I'm so thankful," sighed Laura Bentley. "Dick, I was afraid
there would be but five of you left when I saw Dan being hoisted
aboard!"
Soon Dalzell was able to laugh nervously. Then a scowl darkened
his face.
"I'm the prize idiot of Gridley!" he muttered faintly.
"What's the matter now?" Dave Darrin demanded.
"The canoe is lost, and it's all my fault," moaned Dalzell. "Oh,
dear! Oh, dear!"
"Bother the canoe!" cried Dick impatiently. "We're lucky enough
that no lives have been lost."
"But I---I turned and upset the craft," wailed Dan.
"There were others of us," said Greg sheepishly. "If we had had
the sense of babies none of us would have turned, and there wouldn't
have been any accident."
"This is no time to talk about canoe etiquette
|