om the cockpit, throwing off
goggles and helmets as they ran to the shore where there were several
rowboats moored.

"And a little old-fashioned naphtha launch! By all that's lucky!" cried
Tom. "I didn't think they made these any more. If she only works now!"

There was a little dock at this point on the lake, and the boats
appeared to be held at it for hire. But no one was in charge, and Tom
and Ned made free with what they found. They considered they had this
right in the emergency.

The naphtha launch was chained and padlocked to the dock, but using an
oar Tom burst the chain.

"Get one of the rowboats and fasten it to the back of the launch!" Tom
directed Ned. "I don't believe this craft will hold them all," and he
nodded toward those aboard the sinking boat--for it was only too
plainly sinking now.

"All right!" voiced Ned. "I'm with you. Can you get that engine to
work?"

"She's humming now," announced Tom, as he turned on the naphtha, and
threw in a blazing match to ignite it, this act saving his hand.
Naphtha engines are a trifle treacherous.

A few moments later, though not as quickly as a gasoline craft could
have been gotten under way, Tom was steering the small launch out and
away from the dock, and toward the craft whence came the faint calls
for help. Behind them Tom and Ned towed a large rowboat.

Tom speeded the naphtha craft to its limit, and, fortunately for those
in danger, it was a fast boat. In less time than they had thought
possible, the young inventor and his chum were near the boat that was
now low in the water--so low, in fact, that her rail was all but awash.

"Oh, take us out! Save us!" screamed some of the girls.

"Take it easy now," advised Tom, approaching with care. "We've got room
for you all. Ned, get back in the rowboat and bring that alongside--on
the other side. We'll take you all in," he added.

"Girls first!" called Ned sternly, as he saw one young fellow about to
scramble into the naphtha boat.

"Sure, girls first!" agreed the skipper of the disabled craft. "Hit a
submerged log," he explained to Tom, as the work of rescue proceeded.
"Stove a hole in the bow, but we stuffed coats and things in, and made
it a slow leak. Kept the engine going as long as we could, but I
thought no one would ever come! Lucky you happened to see us from up
there!"

"Yes," assented Tom shortly. He and Ned were too busy to talk much, as
they were aiding in getting some hysterical girls a