Both were good oarsmen and it was not long before they had drawn close to the man in the water.
But it looked as though they would be too late.
When they were only a few yards away Frank looked around, to shout encouragement to the victim of the wreck. Even as he looked, he saw the man wearily give up his grasp on the piece of wreckage to which he had been clinging. Frank had a glimpse of the white face and the despairing eyes and then the man sank slowly beneath the waves.
"He's drowning, Joe!" shouted Frank, as he bent to his oar again.
With a mighty effort they brought the boat close by the place where the man had gone down.
Frank leaped to the side of the boat and peered down into the depths. He began taking off his coat, preparatory to diving to the rescue.
Then the fellow came to the surface again, gasping for breath, but so weak that he could scarcely make a struggle. He emerged from the water, right beside the boat and Frank leaned over, grasping him by the hair. This sufficed to prevent the man from sinking for the second time, and Frank managed to get a grip on the collar of his coat.
