"Or else he's playing a joke on us," hinted Danny Grin, suspiciously.
"It's some joke to remain under water four times as long as the average swimmer can do it," retorted Prescott.
"But Tom may not be under water," spoke up Greg.
"He didn't have time to get anywhere else," Dave declared.
"It may be a joke, but I don't want to take any chances," Dick said earnestly. "Let's go down stream. Spread out, and every now and then bob under and take as near a look at the bottom as you can."
"It doesn't look right," Dave admitted as they all started back.
Several times they went under water, the best swimmers among them getting close to bottom. So they continued on down the stream for some distance.
"Now, all together. Go under water all at the same time," ordered
Dick.
Below the surface of the river they went. One after another their heads presently appeared above the surface once more.
"Have you fellows lost anything?" quizzed Reade, suddenly appearing on the bank.