voice and manner showed intense relief.

"Poor fellow," he added. "Nothing can be done to help him. The water is
deep, and he must have been carried far under the ice. Where is the
catamount--the author of all the mischief?"

This was a heartless question, and the boys were too indignant to reply.
At such a moment they would have cared little for a dozen catamounts.

"Oh! oh!" moaned Hamp. "Poor Jerry! What shall we do? What shall we do?"

So complete and hopeless was their despair that what followed seemed at
first like a dream. They heard a crackling sound, and then a plaintive
cry. It was really Jerry's voice, calling faintly for help from a
distance.

Brick was the first to notice a dark blot some twenty feet out on the
ice. He rushed toward it with a yell of delight, followed by Hamp and
the stranger.

The dark blot was Jerry's head and shoulders. The rim of broken ice
fitted close to his armpits, and his outstretched hands were clutching
at the glossy surface.

"Help! help!" he cried, in a weak and quavering voice. "I'm going under
again, fellows."

"No, you ain't," shouted Hamp. "We'll save you. Hold on a minute."

"Don't go too near by yourself," warned Jerry. "The ice will break."

"That's so," cried Brick, giving one hand to Hamp. The stranger, in
turn, took hold of Brick, and thus a triply-strong line was formed. Hamp
went forward on his knees until he was able to grasp one of Jerry's
hands.

All pulled together. It was a time of terrible suspense. Twice Jerry was
almost out of water, and twice the edge of the ice crumbled, letting him
slip back.

Fortunately Hamp did not break through. He bravely withstood the strain,
and, at last, a mighty effort pulled Jerry out beside him, and he was
dragged to a place of safety.

Hamp rubbed his arm.

"I thought the muscles were going to crack," he said. "It was an awful
strain. But I would have lost both arms sooner than see you drown,
Jerry."

"Better get the lad back to the campfire at once," suggested the
stranger.

This was good advice, for Jerry was simply speechless with cold. His
face and hands were blue, and he shivered like a leaf as he stood with
dripping clothes.

Hamp and Brick took Jerry between them, and away they sped for camp. The
stranger followed, and he was close behind the others when they reached
the fire. The boys now saw him clearly, for the first time, as he stood
in the light of the flames.

The man was about thirty year