The big fellow had him at his mercy.

Steve's head was throbbing when at last he was allowed to lift it out of the water again, gasping for breath.

But the grip on his neck didn't relax.
He was conscious that the laughter had died away, conscious of Sawyer's grinning face beside him, and then down he was plunged again without warning, just managing to draw a little breath into his aching lungs before the water closed over him.

It seemed that his tormentor held him down longer this time, and when, at last, he found the lights in his eyes again and could breathe once more, he was ready to give up the struggle.

He had long since released his hold on Sawyer's trunks, and now his hands were clasped desperately about the other boy's wrists.