I'm down and----" But Dan understood, even before he heard.

While Dave clutched at one of the life buoys Dalzell shot out an arm, dragging Hallam in to safety.
Now, it was Darrin who, with both arms, contrived to link the buoys together.
At last the youngsters had a chance to observe the fact that the battleships had put about and were coming back.
"We'll soon be all right," sighed Dave contentedly, as soon as he could speak.

"There are thirty-five hundred officers, middies and sailors of the American Navy to look after our safety." From where they lay as they hung to the buoys the chums could even see the launches lowered.
Dan, with some of the emergency lashing about the buoy, succeeded, after a good deal of effort, and with some aid from Dave, in passing a cord about Hallam and under the latter's armpits that secured that midshipman to one of the buoys.

The next move of the chums was to lash the buoys together.
"Now," declared Dave, "we can't lose.

We can hang on and be safe here for hours, if need be." "But what a thundering long time it takes them to bring the battleships around to get to us!" murmured Midshipman Dalzell in wonder.
"Be sure not an unnecessary second has been lost," rejoined Dave.