“Sandy!” Bud cried fearfully as he struggled in the swirling torrent.
Calling on every ounce of strength, he swam with powerful strokes toward the girl. Sandy was dazed and limp. Bud’s husky arm circled her tightly. Then he began to fight his way toward shore. Tom and Phyl-each struggling in the turbulent water-could only breathe a prayer of thanks as they watched the rescue.
WALL OF WATER! 61
As the huge wave raced shoreward, the lake water gradually became calmer in its wake. Tom was able to assist Phyl, and Sandy by now had recovered her faculties.
The Sunspot had capsized but could still be seen afloat, some distance away. Rather than swim to it and cling to the hulk in the hope that a rescue boat would arrive, the four decided to continue on toward shore. They knew that the aftermath of the tidal wave would keep all shore facilities in an uproar for hours to come.
As they neared the beach, the young people could see other overturned craft and heads bobbing in the water. A few daring persons finally began putting out in motorboats and rowboats to pick up the survivors.
A hundred yards from shore, one of the boats
62 THE VISITOR FROM PLANET X
took Tom’s group aboard. Minutes later, they were scrambling out onto a dock.
“Are you all right, Sandy?” Bud asked, his arm still around her.
“I-I think so,” she gasped weakly, “but I must have swallowed half the lake!”
“Take it easy, Sis!” Tom added, as Sandy swayed and shuddered from the shock of her recent ordeal.
Gently he made Sandy lie down and pillowed her head on a folded tarpaulin provided by the sympathetic boatman. Phyl, though wan and white-faced, was in somewhat better shape.