"Push us ashore, Dick!" he panted, and understanding the movement perfectly, the elder brother did as desired. Soon all three gained a point from which Tom could wade to the river bank with ease. It was an anxious pair that bent over Sam, who rested on his back with his eyes closed. But the youngest Rover was not allowed to remain long in that position. Tom and Dick knew something of how to handle a person who is nearly drowned, and they now made use of this knowledge with all speed. Sam was rolled and hoisted up by the ankles, and thus he got rid of a large quantity of the water he had swallowed. Yet even when he came to his senses he was too weak to walk, and Tom had to bring the _Spray_ close to shore, and the sufferer had to be carried on board, his brothers wading up to their waists for that purpose. "The first cramp I got was in the stomach," said Sam, when he could talk. "Then it went all over me like an electric shock, and I felt I was going to drown. What happened after that was like some awful dream!" And he shuddered. It was a long while before any of them got over that adventure. CHAPTER VI AN UNEXPECTED MEETING As just related, the boys had brought the _Spray_ as closely inshore as possible. All were now in the cabin, Dick and Tom attending to Sam's wants; and consequently no one noticed the passage of one of the palatial steamers that make daily trips between New York and the capital of the State. These steamers, in running so fast, cast out long rollers on both sides that go tumbling shoreward one after another. The rollers now caught the _Spray_ and sent her dancing up and down like a cork. "Hullo, we're in danger!" shouted Tom, and rushed for the deck, with Dick almost at his heels. The anchor was dragging, and unless pushed off the yacht would soon be pounding on the rocks. "I'll put up the sail!" roared Dick. "You bring up the anchor!" "I guess you had better pole her off," replied Tom. Nevertheless, he did as Dick requested, working like a beaver. The wind was still faint, and when the mainsail was hoisted it failed to fill. Seeing this, Dick seized a pole and Tom did the same. They speedily found that they could not send the yacht out any distance. But, with a pole at the bow and another at the stern, they managed to keep her off the rocks until the rollers began to go down. Then they shoved off with ease and moved slowly up the river. "I'll tell you what, in handling a boat you have got to have your weather eye open all the time," observed Tom. "Yes, and you want to have it open on all sides of you," smiled Dick. "If you don't, you'll catch it before you are aware." Sam lay on one of the tiny berths with which the _Spray_ was provided. His face was deathly white, and, to use his own words, he felt "as weak as a rag." "I'm just beginning to realize how close to death I was," he whispered to Tom. "It was awfully good of you and Dick to do what you did."