"Look at him, look at him, fellows!" Tom shouted. "Here's old Pete, the biggest pickerel in the world, the wary old codger that has defied every fisherman for miles around, and has even eluded the deadly machinations of Si Perkins. Don't stand there like wooden statues--come here and help me unhook this old reprobate. Why don't you say something?" "For the very good reason," Bert answered, drily, "that you haven't given us a chance. And for the second reason, I am so dazed I can't realize our good fortune." "Our good fortune," Tom repeated, scornfully. "You mean my brains and common sense. Who thought of putting that fish back into the water to fool old Pete, I'd like to know?" "You did, and we are perfectly willing to give you all the credit," said Bert. "The really important thing is that he's caught. I can hardly believe it yet. Isn't he a beauty?" he added, enthusiastically. "Look at the length of him, and the thickness---- Say, fellows, I bet we could feed the whole college on him for a month." "I shouldn't wonder," Bert laughed. "I, for one, have never seen his equal, and never expect to again." "What's that?" Tom demanded, sharply, as a cry of terror rent the air. "Let's find out." "It sounded further down the stream, near the mill. Come on, fellows. Hurry!" and Bert instinctively took command, as he always did in cases of emergency. As the boys burst through the bushes further down, the cry came again, a wild call for help, and they saw a white clad figure struggling desperately against the force of the current. With a shout of encouragement Bert plunged into the water, and with long, powerful strokes was nearing the spot where the girl had disappeared. Once more the figure rose to the surface, but Bert knew it was for the last time. The girl was terribly close to the sluice, and as Bert swam he felt the tug of the current. Just as the girl was about to go under, Bert caught her dress and pulled her to the surface. But how, how, could he swim with his burden against the current to the bank, which seemed to him a hundred miles off! With resolute courage he mustered his strength and began the struggle with that merciless current. One stroke, two, three,--surely he was gaining, and a great wave of joy and hope welled up in his heart. He _must_ make it, for not only was his life at stake, but the life of the young girl dependent upon his success. But it became harder and harder to make headway, and finally he realized that he was barely holding his own--that he had to exert all his remaining strength to prevent them both from being drawn through the sluice to a cruel death below.