ning hold upon it.

She turned her white, bloodless face toward Frank, horror and despair in
her dilated eyes. He reached her, swung out with one long stride to the
rock, stooping and clutching her just as she must have been swept away.

His fingers closed on her arms with a grip like iron. He swung her to
her feet and flung her into the hollow of his left arm. Then he turned
and leaped back to the solid ground.

Inza had not fainted. She was limp and nerveless, but still conscious.

Of course, just then Frank's attention was given entirely to her; but
the moment he realized she did not need him, he placed her gently on the
ground and turned to look for the man in black who had fled past him.

By this time the attention of Bart and Elsie had been attracted. They
saw something was the matter, and they hastened toward Inza.

"What is it--oh, what is it?" palpitated Elsie.

Frank turned to Hodge.

"Did you see that man?" he hoarsely asked.

Bart was startled and astounded by the terrible look on Merriwell's face
and the glare in his usually kindly eyes.

"What man?"

"The one in black--the old man who nearly knocked Inza into the river
over on the Canadian side."

"Was it him? I saw some one running, among the trees yonder. What
happened, Merry? How did----"

"Look out for the girls--guard them," commanded Frank.

Then he sprang away with the speed of a deer, quickly disappearing from
view in pursuit of the mysterious man, for he now knew that twice that
day had that man made an attempt on the life of Inza Burrage.

In the meantime, Elsie was kneeling on the ground, her arms about Inza,
trying to learn what had taken place.

"Your feet and the bottom of your skirt are dripping wet, dear," she
said. "Did you slip? Did you fall into the water?"

Inza covered her colorless face with her hands. The fingers of her
gloves were torn from her efforts to obtain a hold on the rock where
she had fallen. She was shuddering all over.

"Tell me--tell me how it happened," urged Elsie.

"That man----" gasped Inza.

"The one Bart saw running away?"

"Yes, yes!"

"What did he do?"

"He pushed me!"

"Pushed you?" cried Bart, astounded and horrified.

"Pushed you?" burst from Elsie.

"With his cane," shuddered Inza.

"The monster!" cried Elsie.

"I had stepped out on that rock," explained Inza.

"Where was the man then?"

"I don't know. I didn't see him until I turned to look back. Then I saw
him close