And now they reached the river bank. Through the darkness they could see the water rushing whitely along. In the midst of the white smother in front of them could be seen a darker blot. Tom guessed it to be a rock in mid-stream.
As he saw it a bold idea flashed into his mind. If they could jump and gain it, perhaps there was another rock beyond to which they could jump in turn, and so cross the stream and reach the other side in safety. In a few low breathless words he confided his plan to Jack. The younger boy, however, was not impressed by it.
“It’s all right for you, with your record for the broad jump, Tom,” he argued. “You could make it. But I don’t believe I could, and——”
There was a sudden crackling and trampling in the brush behind them.
“Here they come,” exclaimed Tom. “It’s now or never. Are we going to try for it or wait here to be roped like two fool calves?”
Jack drew a deep breath.
“I’ll try it,” he said, gritting his teeth.
“Good boy!”
Tom’s hand fell with a tight squeeze on the younger lad’s shoulder.
“You’ll make it, never fear, Jack,” he went on encouragingly, as he threw off his coat and stepped back from the bank as far as possible.