is all right."

Amy clutched her shoulder, and slowly the Little Captain turned about,
saving her strength for the long swim back. She could not be too long
about it either, she thought desperately. Amy was almost exhausted and
had all she could do to keep her head above the water.

It all depended on her, Betty. If she could get to shore, carrying the
double weight before Amy's strength left her and she gave up altogether,
all well and good. But if she could not--she groaned and set herself
grimly to her task.

She had covered about an eighth of the distance back when her heart
leapt suddenly and she gave a sigh of relief. There were two other
bobbing caps on the water coming rapidly nearer--and those two caps
could belong to nobody but Mollie and Grace.

[Illustration: TWO OTHER BOBBING CAPS WERE COMING RAPIDLY NEARER. _The
Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point._ _Page 193._]

That meant help--and, oh, she did need help! She was putting forth all
her strength, but to her agonized fancy she was not going forward at
all. Amy's almost dead weight dragging at her shoulder seemed a
nightmare. Yet she dreaded beyond anything else to be relieved of the
weight for that would mean--. She refused to put the awful thought into
words, merely driving herself on more desperately. And all the time she
was gasping out words of hope and courage to the poor girl she
supported.

Amy seemed beyond words, for she made no answer, merely clutching
Betty's shoulder more tightly and holding on with a grimness born of
terror.

Then just as the gallant Little Captain felt her strength going and knew
she could not hold out much longer, Mollie came abreast of her with
Grace a few feet behind.

Mollie shook the water from her eyes, gave one glance at Betty's face,
then gave peremptory orders.

"Give her to me, Betty," she directed. "I guess you're about all in.
That's it, Amy; grasp my shoulder with your other hand. Get a good grip
before you let go of Betty. That's the way. Now we're all right. Between
us we'll have you in in a jiffy. All right, Betty? Do you need help
yourself?"

But Betty shook her head, her long steady strokes keeping her even with
Mollie. In a moment Grace came up to them and directed Amy to put her
free hand on her shoulder, and in this fashion they finally reached
shallow water.

They found that they were not a moment too soon, for as they got to
their feet and stooped to lift Amy, they found that she had fainted.