“Maybe he’s with the other crowd,” volunteered Sam, and peering over he called down to ask. Tom wasn’t there.
“Perhaps he’s hiding, to scare us,” guessed Frank Dalby, weakly.
“No—Tom wouldn’t do that,” asserted Ned; and the faces of the boys grew pale. “He must be down there still!” leaning over and scanning the placid current. “I bet he never came up! Where was he standing?”
“He was right between Hal and me,” excitedly said Phil. “Wasn’t he, Hal? And I stood here—just exactly, because I remember it by the broken nut on this bolt.”
“Tom! Oh, Tom!” shouted Frank, hopelessly.
No answer. The news had passed to the remainder of the bathers, below, and a buzz of frightened talk arose.
“I’m going after him,” hurriedly announced Ned. “You fellows watch close. I reached bottom easy before.”
“So did I, so did I! Let me go! I’ll go!” came an eager chorus.
“I’m first,” replied Ned, with dogged firmness. “Get out of the way, Hal! If I find him you fellows can come down and help.”
Placing himself a little above where Tom had stood, he dived with all his might.