Sue began to kick her legs.  She gasped and wiggled.

“Keep still!” cried Bunny.  “Uncle Tad is giving you first aid.”  Bunny had often seen the lifeguards at the beach do this to swimmers who went too far out.

“I—­I won’t keep still, Bunny Brown!” gasped Sue.  “And I—­I don’t need any first aid!  I just helded my breath under water, I did, and I didn’t swallow much anyhow.  I was holding my breath when Uncle Tad began to raise up my legs, that’s why I wiggled and couldn’t speak.  I’m all right now and I’m much obliged to you and Dix, Uncle Tad, and I hope my Sallie Malinda isn’t in the lake.”

Sue said this all at one time and then she had to stop for breath.  But what she said was true.  Her father had given her swimming lessons, and Sue was really a good little diver, and perfectly at home where the water was not too rough or deep.  And, as she had said, as soon as she felt herself in the water she had taken a long breath and held it before her nose and mouth went under.

So while Sue was holding her breath, Dix had reached down and caught her, before she had really sunk to the bottom.  For Sue had on a light and fluffy dress, and that really was a sort of life preserver.  As it was, the dog had brought Sue to the boat before she had swallowed more than a few spoonfuls of water, which did her no harm.  Of course she was all wet.

“You’ve gone in swimming, anyhow,” said Bunny, as soon as he saw that his sister was all right.

“Yes, and we must get her to shore as soon as we can,” said Uncle Tad.  “Climb in, Dix, and don’t scatter any more water on us than you can help, though we’ll forgive you almost anything for the way you saved Sue.”

The dog climbed in, over the stern where Uncle Tad told him to, and then gave himself a big shake.

All dogs do that when they come from the water, and Dix only acted naturally.  He gave Bunny and Uncle Tad a shower bath but they did not mind.  Sue could not be made any wetter than she already was.

“Now for a fast row to shore,” said Uncle Tad.  “I saw a farmhouse not far from where we got out of Mr. Jason’s wagon, and I guess you can dry your clothes there, Sue.”

As Uncle Tad started to row Sue cried: 

“But where’s Sallie Malinda?  Where’s my Teddy bear?  I won’t go without her!”

She spoke as if she meant it.  Bunny and Uncle Tad looked on both sides of the boat, and there, on the white sandy bottom of the lake, in about four feet of water, lay the Teddy bear.  It’s eyes were lighted which made it the more easily seen, for Sue must have pressed the switch as she herself fell overboard.  And, as it happened, the batteries and electric lighted eyes were not harmed by water.

“I’ll get her for you,” said Uncle Tad, and he reached for the Teddy bear with a boat hook, soon bringing up the toy.

“Oh, I hope she isn’t spoiled!” cried Sue.

“She can dry out with you when you get to the farmhouse,” said Bunny, and then Uncle Tad began to row toward shore.