he rope can be
thrown back to me."

"I'm afraid, I tell you," insisted Fred, his teeth clicking against
each other. "Can't you see that I'm all in?"

"You'll have us both all in, if you don't get some courage together,"
young Prescott insisted. "Come, be a man, Ripley!"

"I'm freezing to death here," moaned Ripley, closing his eyes.

Somehow---he could never tell just how, afterwards, Dick managed
to slip the rope under Fred's shoulders. With infinite effort---for
he had to keep them both afloat, the freshman double-knotted the
rope.

"Come, now, you've got to help yourself across the ice, while
Dave hauls on the line," urged Dick.

Fred made a motion as though to bestir himself but he did it so
feebly that Prescott gave him a sharp pinch.

"Ouch!" flared Fred, now seeming to be wide awake. "Prescott,
you have the upper hand here. Don't be a bully!"

"I don't want to," spoke Dick, quietly, trying to keep his own
teeth from rattling. "But you've got to stir yourself, or else
I must do it for you. Now, get started over the thin ice.
Dave will haul. Never mind if the ice breaks under you; the rope
is tied around you. You're sure to be hauled to safety if you
help yourself. Now, then, Dave! Begin to haul in!"

It needed another pinch to make Fred Ripley bestir himself properly.
He half whimpered in protest, but Prescott was past minding _that_.

Hardly had Ripley gotten his full weight upon the ice than it
broke under him. He splashed into the water with a great howl,
but alert Dave Darrin hauled in just enough of the rope. Ripley
was safe, and could make the next attempt to get out on the ice.

Meanwhile, Prescott swam to another part of the ice edge. He
rested his hands on that edge, not heavily, but just enough for
some support. At the same time he kept his tired, aching, almost
frozen legs in motion just to keep himself from growing any more
numb.

Four times Fred Ripley broke through the thin ice, but each time
Dave Darrin, astride the first raft, pulled in on the rope just
in time.

After getting himself out of the water for the fifth time, Ripley
crawled over stronger ice, and went on past the hole in which
Dave sat on the raft.

Then Ripley was able to get to his feet, tottering toward the
shore, shaking as though with fever and chills.

A cheer went up from those who watched. The enthusiasm would
have been vastly greater had not the crowd had its eyes on Dick
Prescott, who must