"If the boys can only get there in time--if they only can!"
As Allen was the first to start, so he was also the first to reach the
water's edge. He was just in time to see two hands above the surface of
the water--two hands clutching in anguish.
As he rid himself of his shoes in frantic haste, there was one thought
and one only in his mind--to reach the helpless owner of those hands and
bring her back to life and hope. He was sure it was a girl--those little
appealing hands could belong to no other.
The next moment he was in the water, swimming desperately toward the
point where he had seen the hands disappear.
Oh, he would never reach it! The water seemed to be some living thing,
pushing him; driving him back to the shore in spite of himself! His
muscles seemed weighted with lead, his sodden clothing dragged upon him
mercilessly! Oh, he would never reach her in time--he couldn't!
Then a wild, hot thought flashed through his consciousness, searing it
like a flame. Now was no time to say he could not! He must! _He must!_ A
life depended on his ability to reach that spot when the girl came to
the surface again--if indeed she ever did.
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