Two or three bullets splashed about him as he came to the surface, just in time to be picked up by Bill, who had at last succeeded in getting clear.
"Now!" French Pete called, and a few strokes into the darkness quickly took them out of the zone of fire.
So much water had been shipped that the light skiff was in danger of sinking at any moment.

While the other two rowed, and by the Frenchman's orders, Joe began to throw out the iron.

This saved them for the time being.

But just as they swept alongside the _Dazzler_ the skiff lurched, shoved a side under, and turned turtle, sending the remainder of the iron to bottom.

Joe and 'Frisco Kid came up side by side, and together they clambered aboard with the skiff's painter in tow.