Soon Wags was on shore and shaking himself vigorously, acting as if such a bath was a daily occurrence.

“Hello, you fellows!” came in Giant’s voice.  He was sprawled out on a rock in midstream, sixty feet away.

“Are you hurt?” questioned Shep anxiously.

“No; the water was pretty soft,” answered the small youth.  “But I say, how am I going to get ashore?”

“Can’t you wade it?” asked Whopper.

“No; don’t try that—–­the current is too swift,” cried Snap.

“Well, we can’t take the boat to him,” said Whopper.

“I know that.”

“We might throw him a line,” suggested the doctor’s son.

“Yes, that’s an idea.”

A light but strong line was brought forth and Shep curled it up as a cowboy does a lasso.  Then he made a cast, but the line fell short.

“Let me try it,” said Snap.

One after another the boys on shore tried to reach Giant with the line but failed.  After Whopper had made his cast Wags, who had been sitting on a rock watching proceedings with interest, gave a bark and caught the end of the line in his teeth.

“There’s an idea!” cried Snap.  “Let the dog carry the line.”

“Will he do it?” questioned Whopper.

“We can try him and see.”

The end of the line was made fast to the collie’s collar, and Giant was told to call him.

“Come, Wags!  That’s a good dog!  Come!” called the small youth, and whistled and snapped his fingers.

At first Wags appeared to be doubtful, but finally he ventured into the water.  Then he began to swim steadily toward the rock, dragging the line behind him.

“What a shame if the current carries him away!” murmured Whopper.

“We’ll not allow that,” answered the doctor’s son.  “If he loses ground we can haul him in.”

Slowly but surely the dog drew closer to the rock.  At last he got within Giant’s reach, and the youth caught him and pulled him up.

“Tie the rope about your waist and we’ll haul you to shore!” sang out Shep.  “Bring the dog on your shoulder if you can.”

“I’ll try it,” answered Giant.

It was no easy matter for him, on the wet and slippery rock, to adjust the rope and get the collie on his shoulder.  But presently he announced that he was ready, and the boys on shore commenced to haul in.  Down in the madly rushing water went Giant, and it was all he could do to keep his feet.  But luck was with him, and in a very few minutes he and the dog were safe.

“That was quite an adventure,” he said when he had recovered his breath.

“You went overboard in a great hurry,” remarked Whopper.  “And so did Wags.”

“The shock to the boat did it.  It made me lose my balance before I was aware.”

“Let us be thankful Giant is safe, and Wags,” said the doctor’s son.  “And thankful, too, that the boat didn’t go over.  If it had our outing would have been spoiled.”