all, you will find described in the second
volume called: "Fred Fenton in the Line; Or, The Football Boys of
Riverport School."

During the Winter and early Spring Fred had continued to hold the good
opinions of most of his schoolmates; and with the summer now at hand he
was ready to join with a boy's enthusiasm in the new sports that the
season brought in its train.

Talking earnestly, the two lads were still walking along the edge of
the river some little distance above the town, when, just as they
turned a bend in the stream, they heard a sharp scream, accompanied by
much splashing in the water.

"Listen to that racket, would you, Fred?" cried Bristles, turning
toward his comrade, his face filled with alarm; "as sure as you live,
somebody's fallen into the river, and it sounds like a child, too."

"Come on!" was all Fred said in reply; indeed, even while throwing
these two words over his shoulder he was leaping down the bank of the
Mohunk.

CHAPTER II

THE TRICKY CANOE

Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized
what was going on. Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he
plunged headlong into the river.

A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to
maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating
with the current.

Fortunately the swift stream was bringing it toward Fred as he plunged
into the water. Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to
reach it before the boy sank for the last time.

Bristles Carpenter had by now recovered his wits, and about the time
Fred gave that mighty splash, when going headlong into the river, he
too was hurrying down the bank, trying in his clumsy fashion also to
discard his coat and shoes.

The Fenton boy had, meanwhile, struck out straight for the canoe, with
the little lad trying vainly to get hold of the bobbing gunwales,
disappearing under the surface several times, to come up again
spluttering, and choking.

Fred was a good swimmer, and never in all his past life had he known
such an occasion for making speed as then. He saw that the small boy
could not remain long above the water; and if he did go down, it might
be next to impossible to find him in time to get him ashore while life
remained.

Just as Bristles, panting for breath, and eager to lend a helping hand,
arrived at the brink of the water, he saw his chum reach out, and grasp
the sinking child by the