“They must have struck one of the snags Gif told us about,” remarked Fred. “Come! We’d better turn back and see what’s doing.”
In spite of the violence of the wind and the whitecaps on the lake none of the others imagined that Spouter and Randy were in any great danger. In fact, they were inclined to look at the affair as a joke. They knew that both of the cadets who had gone overboard could swim well.
“Help! Help!” came again from Spouter. “Help! Quick!”
“What is it, Spouter?” called back Jack. “Are you hurt? How about Randy?”
“Randy’s in trouble. He’s caught on a snag! Come quick!”
“Randy in trouble?” The cry came from several of the boys, and as quickly as possible those in the first two boats turned around and made for the spot where the upsetting had taken place.
What Spouter had said about Randy was true. When the boat upset Randy had gone under and then come to the surface. He had attempted to strike out for either the boat or the shore, and had then been caught by a limb of the submerged tree. Then, because of this and because the boat was pounding against it, the submerged tree had in some way turned over, carrying the upper part of Randy’s body under the surface of the lake. His feet were in the air, and he was kicking around vigorously trying to extricate himself from his perilous position.
It took those in the two remaining boats but a few seconds to reach the scene of the catastrophe. They beheld Spouter working frantically, trying to pull Randy to the surface.
“What is it?” came from Jack.