"All right then, I won't go, for you may want the room for those you pick up," answered the shipowner; and a moment later the rowboat was in the water and following the other small craft to the side of the burning vessel. Seeing those from the _Eaglet_ coming to the rescue, several others leaped overboard, so that those in the rowboats had all they could do to move without hitting any one. "Save me! Save me! Don't let me drown!" yelled an elderly man, and caught hold of one of the oars. "All right, we'll save you. Take it easy," returned the first mate of the _Eaglet_; and soon those in the mate's rowboat had the man on board. In the meantime, the boat in command of the boatswain pulled in a woman and a little boy. Dave and his chums had their craft headed to where they had made out the forms of a woman and a girl struggling in the water. They soon reached the first of the pair, and after considerable difficulty managed to drag her on board. "Oh, thank you, thank you!" gasped the woman, as she sank down on the stern seat. "Now save Della! save Della!" she cried, and then suddenly collapsed. Dave had his eyes on the girl, and was on the point of reaching for her when she suddenly threw up her arms and disappeared. "She's gone under!" gasped Roger. "Will she come up again?" asked Shadow, anxiously. "There she is! Over there!" yelled Phil, and pointed to a spot several yards away. A hand and an arm had shown themselves, but that was all. In less than two seconds they disappeared again. Dave had done some rapid thinking. Before leaving the steamer the boys had thrown off their coats. Now standing up, Dave cast his cap to the bottom of the boat, and made a quick dive overboard. "He's gone after her!" "Good for Dave! It's the only thing to do if that girl is to be saved." "Row on and keep your eyes wide open," directed Phil. "I don't think they'll get very far away." Dave had calculated the distance as closely as possible, and once under water he pushed ahead with all speed in the direction where he had seen the hand and arm. While at Oak Hall he had learned the trick of swimming under water with his eyes open, and this now stood him in good stead. "There she is," he thought, as he caught sight of something white passing just to the left of him. He made a quick turn, and a few seconds later had the girl by the hand. Then Dave caught her under the arms, and treading water, brought both her and himself to the surface. "There they are!" he heard Phil cry, and the next moment the rowboat came up close. "Oh, oh! sa--sa--save m--me!" spluttered the girl; and breaking loose, she swung around and caught Dave tightly by the neck. [Illustration: DAVE CAUGHT HER UNDER THE ARMS, AND, TREADING WATER, BROUGHT BOTH HER AND HIMSELF TO THE SURFACE.--_Page 24._]