"I would have been if it hadn't been for one thing," returned our hero, with an odd little smile. "One thing? What was that?" "I doubt if you can guess." "Maybe you were bound fast to the wreckage, or it didn't float into deep water." "I don't know about being bound fast, but I do know the wreckage floated around, or rather, down stream. But that wasn't what I referred to." "What was it?" "Can't you guess?" "I don't think so." "I had on a cork life-preserver," said Dave. "I was looking at it this morning when you called to me." "A cork life-preserver?" excitedly repeated Mr. Bellmore. "Was it--was it any particular kind, Dave?" "Why, yes, it was. But why do you look at me so strangely?" "Never mind that now! Tell me about that life-preserver. How was it made?" "From bottle corks strung together and made into a belt. I had it around me when dad--I mean Mr. Carson--picked me up. I--I thought the preserver might be a clew but it isn't, for--" "A clew! Of course it is!" fairly shouted the engineer. "Hurrah, Dave it _is_ a clew. Put her there, old man! Shake! I said a while ago that we were brothers in misfortune! We're more than that. "We're real brothers, Dave Carson--no, not Dave Carson any longer! Dave Bellmore! We're brothers, I tell you! brothers!" CHAPTER XXV THE NEW RANCH For a moment the two remained with clasped hands, looking deep into the eyes one of the other. Then Dave, with a deep breath, murmured: "Brothers! Is it possible?" "Not only possible, but probable!" cried Mr. Bellmore. "We are brothers, I tell you, Dave! Your mention of that cork life-preserver almost proves it to me." "Why so?" "Because, before I went away to the East, to visit, I made one just like that with which to learn to swim. I did learn, too, with it. Of course I'd have to see this one to be dead sure, but it isn't likely that there would be two cork life-preservers made in that way. I'm sure it was mine you had on when you were rescued. Come on, we'll gallop to the ranch and find out." They set off at top speed, Dave's heart beating madly with hope. "Oh, if it should prove true, after all!" he murmured over and over again. "That I really have some folks at last!" As they rode Mr. Bellmore briefly told how, as a boy of about ten, he wanted to swim in the stream that ran near his home. "This was in Missouri, too," he said, "so that adds to the assurance I have that we are brothers, since it was in Missouri that you were found by Mr. Carson. I made that life preserver out of a design from my own head. I know I had to beg and borrow corks from all the neighbors before I had enough. But with that on I simply could not sink, and so I learned to swim. "I wanted to take it East with me, but my folks persuaded me to leave it at home. And poor mother or father must have fastened it on you when the flood came. Oh, I'm sure it's the same one. We are brothers!" Once more they clasped hands and looked into each other's eyes.