His hand touched an arm, and then he held Harry fast and brought him to the surface. The poor boy was too weak to make the first movement.
“Haul in on the rope, Blumpo!” called Jerry.
Turning the tiller over to Dora Vincent, the homeless youth did as directed.
Jerry, with his burden, was soon brought alongside.
It was no easy matter to hoist Harry on deck in the storm, but at last it was accomplished, and Jerry followed his charge.
Harry was unconscious, and he was taken to the cabin, where Dora and the other girls did all in their power for him; and then the Cutwater was headed for Lakeview, two miles distant.
The hurricane, or whatever it might be called, had by this time spent itself. The rain ceased and before the lake town came into view the sun shone once more as brightly as ever.
Clarence Conant came on deck looking very much annoyed. He felt that he had played the part of a coward, and knew he would have no easy time of it to right himself in the eyes of the young ladies.
“The—ah—truth is, I was very sick,” he explained to Jerry. “I got a—ah—spasm of the—ah—heart.”
“Sure it wasn’t a spasm in your great toe?” said Jerry, with a grin.
But Clarence never smiled. It would not have been good form, you know.
As soon as the dock was reached, Jerry left Blumpo to tie up and went to Harry. He found his chum able to sit up. He was very weak, but that was all.
“It was a close call for me, Jerry,” said Harry, with a shudder. “I owe you my life.”
“It was a close call all around,” replied our hero. “We can be thankful that we are here safe and sound.”
Harry felt too weak to walk, so a carriage was called to take him home. Jerry went with him, while Blumpo went over to the grocery store to tell of all that had happened.
Clarence Conant was utterly left. He tried to excuse himself to Dora Vincent and the other young ladies, but they would have nothing to do with him.
“The next time I go out it will be with somebody who can manage a boat, and who is brave enough to do it, even in a storm,” said Dora, and walked away with her lady friends.
“Beastly bad job, beastly!” muttered Clarence to himself. “And my best sailor suit utterly ruined, too! Oh, why did that storm have to come up on us?”
But this was not the end of the matter for the dude.