y the side of the boat and seized it in
both hands. In vain Davis tried to steady the craft. Frank's effort was
too powerful to resist and the little craft capsized, hurling Davis into
the water.

Frank, treading water--now that he had his enemy on even terms--smiled
as he waited for the traitor to come up; but what was his surprise when
he felt himself suddenly seized by the legs and drawn beneath the
surface. So sudden and unexpected was this movement that the lad did not
have time to catch a breath before his head went under.

He kicked out desperately with his left foot and felt it strike
something soft; and at that moment the hold upon his legs relaxed. The
lad rose rapidly to the surface, where he inhaled great draughts of
fresh air. Then he swam away a few strokes and waited for Davis to rise,
for he knew he could not remain under water much longer.

A head bobbed up close to him, and, swimming quickly forward, Frank
struck out heavily with his left fist. The fist came in contact with a
face and Frank grinned as he realized that the blow had gone home. Again
he waited for Davis to come to the surface.

The latter did so a moment later, but succeeded in dodging the heavy
blow that the lad aimed at him. He disappeared again almost immediately
and a second time the lad felt himself seized in a tight embrace which
drew him under.

Immediately he felt the hold upon his legs relax and a hand seized him
by the throat.

This time Frank had taken a breath before being pulled under, for the
lad was not to be caught napping twice in the same way, and he felt that
he could remain beneath the water as long as his opponent.

But the grasp on his throat was strangling him and the lad realized that
desperate measures were necessary to free himself.

He swung his right arm low in the water, at the same moment seizing the
hand that grasped his throat with his left. His right hand found its
mark and at the same moment the lad gave a quick jerk with his left
hand. The grip upon his throat weakened, and, as Frank struck a second
time, was released altogether.

Almost immediately, however, a pair of arms closed about his legs again,
holding him tight and carrying him down. With his two hands Frank felt
about him blindly, and at last encountered a head. He reached farther
down and then gripped Davis by the throat with both hands and pressed
them together.

Davis was threshing about in the water in an effort to release this