“Hadn’t we better tie a rope to you?” suggested Tom, understanding the danger.
“I—I’ll——” began Abe, and then there was a commotion in the water, and Joe shot up. He did not seem to be in distress. In one hand he held up a carpenter’s hammer.
“We were just getting worried about you,” said Tom, with a breath of relief.
“How’d you manage to stay down so long?” asked Abe.
“I—I found air down there,” explained Joe, pantingly. “The cabin isn’t quite full of water, and I stuck my nose up close to the ceiling and got a breath in an air space.”
“Did you locate a saw?” asked Abe.
“Not yet. But I will. I found the carpenter’s quarters all right. I’ve got to go by feeling, but I’ll get a saw sooner or later. Here’s a hammer, anyhow.”
He tossed it to Abe and then, after a rest, he went down again. This time he remained under longer than before and coming up brought an adze, which would come in useful. It was on his third trial that he located a saw, quite rusted, it is true, but nevertheless a saw.
“Hurray!” cried Tom.