CHAPTER XXV.
TOM TO THE RESCUE "We've only got one oar," answered a desperate voice.
"Put it over the stern and scull it," directed someone on the float.
There was a splash in reply, and Innes, who had promptly vacated his seat, crawled dripping to the landing.

Hatherton, Williams, Norton and Marvin were already swimming desperately toward the mouth of the cove, while several fellows on land were running hard to the point, following the curving shore.

The rowboat was at last under way, but making slow progress.

Norton was the best swimmer of the trio, or, at least, the fastest, and Williams and Marvin were soon hopelessly in the rear.

But Norton, if he could distance the other two, found that he was gaining but slowly on Tom, who, swimming as he had never swam before, as he didn't know he could swim, was already well out toward the mouth of the cove.
His limbs were aching already, and his lungs were hurting as he fought his way through the water and against a slow-coming tide.