His arms were pinioned by the drowning wretch, and they both vanished beneath the waves.
As they went under, however, Merritt managed to get one hand free, and recalling what he had read of what to do under such conditions, struck the other boy a terrific blow between the eyes.

It stunned Sam completely, and, to his great relief, Merritt felt the imprisoning grip relax.

He could then handle Sam easily, and as they shot to the surface he saw the Flying Fish bearing down on them, with four white, strained faces searching the tumbling waters.
In a few moments the unconscious lad and his rescuer were hauled on board, and Rob, after congratulations, headed the Flying Fish for the mouth of the inlet, which was still some distance off.
Tubby and Bill Bender laid Sam on his stomach, across a thwart, and started to try to get some of the salt water, of which he had swallowed great quantities, out of him.

He soon gave signs of returning consciousness, and opened his eyes just as Jack Curtiss was demanding to know if the Boy Scouts weren't going to take the hydroplane in tow.
"Not much we're not," responded Rob.

"I'm sorry to have to leave her; but this sea is getting up nastier every minute, and there's no way of getting a line to her without running more risk than I want to take.
We've had one near-drowning and we don't want another." "If this was my boat, I'd pick Sam's boat up," sullenly replied the bully.
"You ought to be mighty glad we came along when we did," indignantly spoke up Tubby.