"Cantys given out--he's going to drown!" gasped Midshipman Dan, with horror. Like a flash Dan dived below, found and clutched at Canty. The young man returned the grip with interest, but Midshipman Dalzell struggled to the surface with him. Ab Canty was exhausted, out of his head and altogether past reasoning. Dan hated to do it, but he had to strike the young man in the forehead. Canty gave a gasp and ceased to resist. Dave Darrin, watching, had run the boat up close alongside as soon as the struggling pair appeared above the waves. "You'll have to take him in, Davy," announced Midshipman Dalzell. "Canty isn't strong enough to tow behind. And I'm coming aboard for a fresh look before I dive for Miss Wright." "You're going to stay aboard and manage the boat," retorted Darrin quietly. "I'm going in next." "Oh, all right, if you want to," half grumbled Dan. "But I'm just beginning to get used to it and to like it." Dan, however, followed orders and took his seat by tiller and sheet as soon as they had towed Canty safely in the boat. Tom Foss, lied and holding on at the stern, was beginning to chatter hard, but said he was all right. A brief instant of consultation the two midshipmen held. Then Dave Darrin, holding his hands before him, dived hard and deep into the water. After nearly a minute he came up again, but only to take an observation. Then he sank, to explore more of the space under water. For five minutes Darrin continued this, making four dives in all, and sinking twice without diving. "I can't give this up, and abandon a girl," he muttered. "Dan, I've got to take more account of the current, and work gradually downstream." A little later Dave rose with a whoop the instant that his head showed above the water. "I've got her," Dave announced, though his voice was hoarse and panting. "Hurrah!" came from Dan, as he saw the girl's head show above the surface. Dalzell, hauling on the sheet, ran the boat in close. Dave grasped at the rail on the weather quarter, while Dan bent over him, hauling hard. And so Ella Wright was dragged unconscious into the boat. "I'd stay here in the water with you, Tom," explained Dave, "but I've got to be in the boat to do my share of handling her." "Th-th-that's all r-r-r-r-right," chattered poor Foss, "I'm d-d-d-doing f-f-f-fine here--c-c-c-couldn't h-help in the b-b-b-boat" While lying to, it had taken some fine management on the part of the midshipmen to keep the sailboat from capsizing. And now, on this rough, wave-strewn river, they had to tack back against a nearly head wind. "Look at the crowd on the clubhouse float," gasped Dan as soon as the Naval chums had gotten their craft under way. "Good thing," muttered Darrin. "We'll need plenty of help." "I wonder how the crowd got wind of the thing in such short time?" "You forget," nudged Darrin, "that there's a telephone in the clubhouse. Laura and Belle are not given to losing their heads. Undoubtedly they've been 'phoning to Gridley."