n Ned ceased paddling a few feet above
and to the right of the whirlpool, and allowed the canoe to drift down
stream broadside. But he was wonderfully cool headed and self-possessed,
as, with deft fingers he unwrapped the ball of cord and coiled it
between his knees. Then he twisted one end about his left hand, and with
the right seized the short, heavy stick.

He was now directly opposite Clay, and measuring the distance with a
quick eye, he flung the stick straight out. It rose in the air, dragging
the cord gracefully after it, and fell across the combing of Clay's
canoe.

Ned uttered a sigh of relief, and Randy and Nugget cheered wildly from
the shore.

But the danger was not over yet, though Clay had instantly seized the
line. The canoe would upset at once if an attempt were made to drag it
broadside out of the whirlpool.

Clay comprehended this, and he was quick witted enough to solve the
problem. Though his canoe was now verging on the trough of the
whirlpool, he calmly tied the line around one blade of his paddle and
pressed this with all his might against the big screw eye that was set
in the bow of the canoe.

"All right," he shouted hoarsely.

Ned turned and waved his hand to Randy and Nugget. They understood the
signal, and instantly began to haul on the line.

The Pioneer moved slowly toward shore, and the next instant the strain
reached Clay. It was concentrated in the right place, too, and after a
couple of refractory tugs, as though the whirlpool was loath to
surrender its victim, the Neptune headed about and slowly followed the
Pioneer.

This was, if possible, a more exciting moment than any that had preceded
it. So much depended on the two lines. If either broke disaster would
follow.

But the cords did their duty nobly, and soon Clay was beyond the
swirling circles. A few seconds later the Pioneer touched shore, and
then three willing pairs of hands dragged the Neptune in so forcibly
that a great wave rolled before the bow.

The boys had to help Clay out and prop him against a tree; and for
nearly five minutes he sat there so white and helpless that they feared
he would faint. A drink of water seemed to revive him some, and finally
the color came back to his cheeks.

"I'm all right now," he said, as he got up and walked a few steps. "For
a little while I felt like keeling over, and no wonder, after what I
went through out there."

"It was a close call," asserted Ned. "Nugget didn't rem