Dave felt a hard tug at the cable, but he did not at that instant realize that Dan Dalzell had just started down from the steamer.
Dave judged that the right instant had come.

He let go of the loop, and was shot upward.

But, as he moved, his spread arms caught hold of the floating figure.
Up to within a few feet of the surface Darrin and his burden moved easily.

Then he found it necessary to kick out hard with his feet.

Thus he carried the burden clear, to the open air above, though at a distance of some forty feet from the steamer.
"There they are!" Farley's voice was heard calling, and there was a splash.
"Bully for you, old fellow! Hold her up, and I'm with you!" hailed Midshipman Farley.
In another moment Dave Darrin had been eased of his human burden, and Farley was swimming to the steamer with the senseless form of Pauline Butler.
Darrin tried to swim, and was astounded at finding himself so weak in the water.