Then the water closed over them.  Jack felt himself slipping down and down into the watery grave that awaited them.

No strength can combat the power of frenzy.  Though Jack Benson struggled, he realized that it was a losing battle.  The girl’s arms seemed locked in a deathless grip around his own.

By the time that the first of the midshipmen reached the spot there was no trace either of Jack Benson or of the girl whom he had sought to save.

CHAPTER XXII

JACK SIGNALS THE “SAWBONES”

Though he realized the deadly peril of the situation, Jack Benson, when he found himself in that frantic embrace, slipping below the waters, did not lose his head.

“She’ll weaken before I do,” was his first thought.

He had taken in no water.  A strong, expert swimmer, the submarine boy could hold in his breath for some time to come.

“If I could only free one hand, now!” thought the submarine boy.

He tried, but some instinct in the girl made her resist his efforts.

Even had he wanted to, the chivalrous youngster could not now have struck the blow that, depriving the young woman of her senses, would give him a chance to control her.  His arms were pinned tightly.

Yet were they held so securely that he could not free one?

Jack Benson knew that he must, indeed, think fast, now, if he was to save their lives.

He tried one of the tricks of wrestlers for freeing his right arm.

A shudder passed through the frame of the girl; she clung more convulsively still.

Then Jack tried another little dodge.  This time he nearly freed his left arm.  Summoning all his strength, he gave another tug.

His left arm was free!

Working mightily with it, now, Jack Benson fought his way to the surface.

There was no need to give much heed to his unknown companion.  She was holding to him in a way that insured her rising to the surface with him.

“Ugh!  Whew!” What a mighty breath it was that the young submarine captain took into his lungs as his head shot into air.

“Oh, you—­Benson!” shot from a middy’s mouth.

The cry led half a dozen of the young men toward the all but exhausted rescuer.  They came with long, lusty strokes that brought them to Benson, quickly, while he trod water and tried to raise the face of the girl above the surface.

The girl’s eyes were closed, now, her cheeks pallid and waxen.  Twice her face dropped beneath the surface, but Jack fought to bring her lips up into the air.

Then strong hands seized them both.

“Untwine the young lady’s arms, if you can,” begged the submarine boy.

Two of the cadets succeeded in doing this.  More midshipmen were about them, now, yet not one among them could have boasted of being a better swimmer than was Jack Benson himself.