Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/105

Rh who rowed with might and main for the spot where Si had gone down.

"See anything?" asked the youth, after the sailors had been rowing for several minutes.

"Not a thing," replied the officer, who stood up in the bow of the boat.

"But he must be somewhere about," was the half-desperate return. And then Walter added quickly, "What is that, over to the left?"

"It's the young fellow!" cried the officer.

"Help! help!" came faintly from Si.

"We're coming! Keep up!" shouted back Walter.

"Help! I can't keep up!" was the gasping return, and then Si went under again as quickly as he had appeared.

"I know what's the matter," ejaculated the officer in charge of the boat. "He's fast to that line, and his game is dragging him around." And in this surmise he was correct. Poor Si was practically a prisoner, and it looked as if he would be drowned before aid could reach him.