“I don’t think so,” he said.
“Well, why not? They have us at their mercy.”
“That is just it,” responded Tom soberly. “As soon as we show ourselves, they will, of course, know that we are not drowned. That being the case, all they have got to do is to keep the rock covered. Why, if they want to, they could keep us here till starvation finishes us off.”
“Unless we swim for it,” put in Jack.
“Swim for it?” Tom laughed grimly, and pointed to the water about them. “How long could a fellow last in that?”
“Well, I’d try it before I’d give Lake the satisfaction of starving us out,” responded Jack grittily.
“Same here,” replied Tom, “but I’ve got another plan in my head. The only thing is I don’t know if the means for working it out will come along before we drop off here from starvation.”
“You don’t mean that you’ve figured out a way of getting off here?” gasped Jack.
“I have,” rejoined Tom, “but it’s a very remote chance that it will be successful. It depends on so many things.”
“Say,” demanded Jack, “you’re not thinking of trying the jump to the other bank—you’d never make it.”