Part 3 (1/2)
CHAPTER III
TO THE RESCUE
”Don't leave us! Don't leave us!” shouted the man in theover the rocky shore up the strea captain of the Colby Hall cadets ”We are going to try to get to that tree and e”
”Oh, please hurry!” screaher every ht into our faces!”
”We'll do e can,” shouted back Randy, and the others added siement
It was no easy task for the Rovers to make their way over the wet rocks, covered here and there with slippery grass and weeds More than once one or another went down, and Fred gave his left elbow a bu of the shi+ns
Fortunately, the downpour of rain was abating, so that they had a chance to dash the water fro to do They soon reached the last of the rocks jutting out froain to a halt to view the situation
”There is no help for it--we've got to juht in and trust to luck to reach the other side,” said Jack
”Let us take hold of hands Maybe we can brace ourselves better,”
suggested Randy
This plan was carried out, and a moment later found the four cadets in water up to their knees So sas the current they had all they could do to keep their feet, and Andy would have gone down had not his brother and Fred held him up
It was lucky for the lads that they had chosen a spot where the strea out on the side opposite to the rocky bluff Nevertheless, at one point they found themselves in water up to their waists, and here they had to struggle withswept down to where the man and the boy were held prisoners
”Say, this is awful!” gasped Fred, when he at last found hi like a mill-race,” was Randy's comment
When they had reached a spot where the water was less than a foot deep they stopped once ain their breath, and then, led by Jack, moved cautiously down the river to the point where was located the drifting tree the man had mentioned
”Just see if you can't pull it toward the shore,” directed the s around”
It was now that the young cadets' lessons in bridge building while in caave orders as to just how the swinging around of the tree ht and asped Fred, after half a ain, boys!” shouted Jack encouragingly ”Now then--all together! One--two--three!”
Again the four sturdy boys exerted all their strength on the tree, and this tied in between soive way Then, as they hauled the tree still farther froht by the current, went dashi+ng along on its course
”Hurrah! There she goes!” shouted Randy, as the tree disappeared in a veil of foam and spray
”How about it?” shouted Jack to the et loose now?”
Both of the prisoners were exerting their utmost to release themselves and did not answer But their efforts were in vain, and soon they ceased to struggle
”It's no use! One of the logs is holding our feet right against the rocks!” gasped out the e it”
”I'!” screaer”