He made up his mind at once.

Swiftly moving his free hand back, he struck Page on the forehead
with his clenched fist.

At that moment, Page began to fight harder to keep them both down.
But Darrin struck him again on the head with his fist.

The injured midshipman now collapsed, senseless.

Cautiously though swiftly Dave freed himself, got a left hand
grip on the collar of Page's blouse, and with his right hand struck
out for the surface.

His feet aided. With joy Dave saw the water overhead growing
lighter and lighter. Then his face shot up into the life-giving air.

Darrin took in a great gulp of it, then turned to make sure that
the unconscious Page's mouth was above water.

Close at hand one of the sailboats of the fleet was bearing down
upon them.

"There are Mr. Darrin and Mr. Page!" shouted a voice.

Splash! splash! Two classmates were over in the water, swimming
superbly toward the exhausted Dave.

"Keep up a moment or two longer, Mr. Darrin!" hailed the voice
of Midshipman Hallam encouragingly.

All these young midshipmen were on duty. Therefore, throughout
the mishap and its attendant circumstances the ceremonious use
of "Mr." had been followed.

"Won't I keep up, though!" thrilled Dave, as he heard the cheering
hail.

All but forgetting himself, Dave turned to make sure that Page's
mouth was kept above water.

"Let me have Mr. Page!" called out Midshipman Botkin, ranging
up alongside and taking charge of Darrin's burden.

"How are you, Mr. Darrin? Enjoy a little help?" queried Midshipman
Hallam, throwing out a supporting arm to his classmate.

"I'm nearly all in," confessed Dave, with a ghastly smile.

"But not all in? Good enough! Get hold of my arm, and don't
try to do much more than float. They're gathering the men in
fast, now."

Two sailboats were now engaged in the work of rescue, and a third
was heading for Mr. Salisbury and his engineer.

In almost no time, it seemed, Dave and Page, and their supporters,
were hauled into one of the boats.

"Give Mr. Page first aid for the injured--quick!" urged Dave,
almost in a whisper. "He has gone close to being drowned."

Hardly had he spoken the words when Darrin's own eyes closed.
The strain had been too much for him.

When the steam launches came up, Dave and Page, as well as the
other drenched fourth class men, were transferred, and fast time
was made back to the dock.

Mr. Salisbury and his engineer were also taken