"If we swim over there we won't know where to go to dry off and get clothes. And there'll be an awful time at the school," said Nancy.
Just then the horn at the boathouse sounded mournfully across the water. It was first call for the scattered boats to return--half-past eight. If all the girls were not in by nine they had to explain the reason to Miss Etching.
"Well, then, shall it be the boathouse?" queried Jennie.
"We've drifted a long way below it. See! there's the bend," said Nancy, rising to look. "Let's make for the nearest point on that side."
"Come on, then!" said Jennie, and side by side, but heavily, the two girls struck out.
Neither was quite sure that she could swim that far under the present conditions. Yet they were too plucky to say so to each other.
For at least five minutes they plugged away and then Nancy, rising up again, uttered a startled exclamation.
"Goodness me!" exclaimed Jennie. "We'll land somewhere about at the Academy, if we don't look out."
At that instant they both heard the swish of oars, or a paddle. In unison they raised their voices in a shout:
They could not see the craft approaching, for the mist on the river had been growing thicker and thicker, all this time. But there was an answering cry:
"Shout again!" cried the voice in the mist.
"Well, I'm going to be saved if I'm _not_ dressed for company," declared Jennie, and she raised her voice again:
Then into sight flashed a ghostly craft, which came straight for them.
"Oh! it's only a canoe!" wailed Jennie. "We can't climb into a canoe."
"My goodness! It's two girls!" ejaculated the person paddling the canoe.
"Mr. Endress!" exclaimed Nancy, recognizing the boy from Dr. Dudley's Academy.
"What?" shouted Bob Endress. "Is it Nancy Nelson?"
"And Jennie Bruce. We lost our boat. It sank," explained Nancy, breathlessly.
"Each of you grab the gunwale of my canoe. Easy, now!" admonished Bob.
"Now I can paddle you to shore. Just let your bodies float right out. It's lucky I came along. The current's so strong around this bend."
"I never saw a boy so welcome before!" gasped Jennie, getting back her courage immediately.
"And now I can return your compliment, Nancy," said Bob, laughing. "You saved me from drowning, and if you hang on long enough I'll manage to save you, I guess."