"Steady," said her father. "Steady."

While Griffith held the two boats together, he stepped aboard the smaller one. He bent over the crumpled figure, feeling Jerry's pulse, gently turning him upon his back.

"Is he alive, Dad?"

"His pulse is weak, but I can feel it. Yes, he's breathing! Hold that light steady, Penny."

"Dad, there's blood on his head! I--I can see it trickling down."

"He's been struck with a club or some blunt object," Mr. Parker said grimly. "He may have a fractured skull."

"Oh, Dad!"

"Keep a grip on yourself," her father ordered sternly, "It may not be as bad as I think, but we'll have to rush him to the nearest doctor."

"If it was me, I wouldn't try to move him out of there," advised Harry Griffith. "Leave him where he is. I'll get aboard and we'll take this boat in tow."

Penny helped the man make their craft fast to the other boat, and then they both climbed aboard. Griffith started the engine and turned around in the river.

"I'll head for Covert," he said. "That's about the closest place. There ought to be a good doctor in a town that size."

While Griffith handled the boat, Penny and her father did what they could to make Jerry comfortable. They stripped off their coats, using one for a pillow, and the other to cover his body.

"Those two men he was sent to follow must be responsible for this!" Penny murmured. "How could they do such a brutal thing?"

"I'll notify the police as soon as we touch sh.o.r.e," her father said grimly. "We'll search every cove and inlet until we find the ones responsible!"

As he spoke Mr. Parker bent lower to examine the wound on Jerry's head.

Blood had nearly stopped flowing and he was hopeful that it came from a flesh wound. He pressed a clean handkerchief against it and the young man stirred.

"How long do you suppose he's been like this, Dad?"

"Hard to tell. An hour, maybe two hours."

Presently, as the boat made full speed up the river, Jerry stirred once more. His lips moved but the words were indistinguishable.

"How far to Covert?" Mr. Parker asked anxiously.

"About four miles from this point," Griffith flung over his shoulder.

"It's the next town above the Kippenberg estate. I'm making the best time I can."

Jerry moved restlessly, his hands plucking at the coat which covered him.

"Flaming eyes," he muttered. "Looking at me--looking at me--"

Penny and her father gazed at each other in startled dismay.

"He's completely out of his head," whispered Penny.

"He's gone back to that other accident which happened last year," nodded Mr. Parker. "The Vanishing Houseboat affair."

"Jerry's had more than his share of bad luck, Dad. Twice now on this same river, he's met with disaster. And this time he may not come through."

"I think he will if his skull hasn't been fractured," Mr. Parker told her encouragingly. "Listen!"

Jerry's lips were moving again, and this time his words were more rational.

"Got to get word to the Chief," they heard him mutter. "Got to get word--"

A long while after that Jerry remained perfectly quiet. Suddenly arousing, his eyes opened wide and he struggled to sit up. Mr. Parker gently pressed him back.

"Where am I?" Jerry muttered. "Let me out of here! Let me out!"

"Quiet, Jerry," soothed Mr. Parker. "You're with friends."

The reporter's tense grip on the editor's hand relaxed. "That you, Chief?"

"Yes, Jerry. Just lie quiet. We'll have you to a doctor in a few more minutes."

"Doctor! I don't need any doctor," he protested, trying once more to sit up. "What happened anyway?"

"That's what we would like to know."

"Can't you remember anything, Jerry?" Penny asked. "You went out on the river to try to trace those two men in the cruiser."

"Oh, it's coming back to me now. I ran into their boat down by Cranberry Cove. They tied up there."

"And then what happened?" Penny demanded, as Jerry paused.

"I saw 'em walk ash.o.r.e. Thought I would follow so I tied up my boat, too.

They started off through the trees. Pretty soon they met a third man, a well dressed fellow, educated too."

"Did you hear any of their conversation?" Mr. Parker questioned.

"I heard Kippenberg's name mentioned. That caught my interest so I crept closer. Must have given myself away because that's about the last I remember. A ton of dynamite seemed to explode in my head. And here I am."

"Obviously, you were struck from behind with some heavy object," Mr.

Parker said. "They probably dumped you back in your own boat and set it adrift. You never saw your attacker?"

"No."

Jerry rested for a moment, and then as it dawned upon him that he was being speeded to a doctor, he began to protest.

"Say, Chief, I'll be all right. I don't need any doc. Head's clear as a bell now."

"That's fine, Jerry. But you'll see a doctor anyway and have X-rays.

We're taking no chances."