It required no little effort on the part of the boys to get the helpless girl into the boat, but it was finally done, and they rowed back to the assistance of the others.  The other girl was helped from the overturned canoe, to which she was clinging, into their boat which was now loaded to its full capacity.

“Never mind me,” called the man, who was about twenty-two or three years old, “I can hold on behind until we get ashore!”

“Is she alive?” asked the other girl, as she was helped into the boat, looking fearfully at the girl lying in the stern.  “Very much so,” answered Pepper, who had been feeling her pulse.  “The first thing to do is to get some of the water out of her lungs, if there is any there.  Hold her with her head down.  That’s all right!  Now, then, let’s get ashore as fast as we can.”

As the canoe had overturned the captain of the Dart, who was in the pilot house, seeing the accident, had rung for slow speed and, putting the yacht about, hurried back to the place.  But, except for the fortunate presence of the boys, it is doubtful if he would have arrived in time to be of any assistance.

“Can we help you in any way?” called Mr. Whilden, the owner of the yacht, who was standing at the gangway as it ran down close to the boat.  “I was afraid we wouldn’t get here in time.”

“There is an unconscious girl here that would be better on your boat,” replied Rand.

“All right,” responded Mr. Whilden, “we’ll take her on board.  Can you come alongside?” This end was shortly accomplished, then, lifting the girl up in their arms, Donald and Rand passed her to Mr. Whilden and the captain.

“Have you a doctor on board?” called Pepper.  “She needs attention right away.”

“Yes,” responded a gentleman who was standing by.  “I am a physician, I will take care of her.”

At this moment there was a scream from a lady on the yacht as she caught sight of the girl.  “Why it is Nellie!  She is dead!” she cried, and would have fallen to the deck if she had not been caught by Mr. Whilden.

“Impossible!” he exclaimed.  “How in the world could Nellie get here?” adding a moment later as he looked more closely:  “Surely it is she.  Is there any hope for her, Doctor?”

“Of course there is,” replied the physician.  “She is coming around all right, thanks to these young men, who rescued her.”

“And where are they?” asked Mr. Whilden.  “I had almost forgotten them in the excitement,” turning to the boys, who had come on board to learn as to the fate of the girl.  Shaking hands with them again and again, he explained:  “She is my daughter.  I hadn’t any idea she was anywhere near, and I don’t see how it happened yet.  Why, hello, Frank!” addressing the young man who had been in the canoe, and who was now wringing the water from his clothes.  “What in the world were you doing here?”

“Why, Nellie and I,” explained Frank, agitatedly—­he had not yet recovered from the shock of his experience—­“came down to visit Mabel, and we went out for a cruise on the river.”