Shivering for a moment in anticipation, Dick raised his arms above his head, darted for a few paces over the smooth white sand and shot straight out into the gurgling current. Sandy hit the water almost simultaneously. As the two boys came blowing to the surface, Dick made a playful swipe at his chum’s head. Instinctively Sandy ducked.
“I’ll race you down to that big rock, you big, overgrown puppy,” he called out mockingly. “I’m in my natural element now. Try to catch me!”
They plowed through the water. An expert swimmer, Sandy won the race by a wide margin. He was sitting on the rock, feet dangling above the surface of the stream, when Dick came puffing up. But instead of the look of triumph on his face that Dick had expected, Sandy’s countenance was distorted painfully.
“Why, Sandy—what’s the matter? Did you get cramps?”
The other did not reply. He was staring at Dick now with eyes that were wide with horror. He slipped from the rock in a sort of panic and struck out for shore. Hastily, Dick followed him.
Wading out, Dick approached the trembling figure.
“You’re frightened,” he declared. “Or are you sick, Sandy? Was the water too cold for you?”
“Dick—I saw it! A body floated past! A man!”
“A what——” gasped Dick.
“I was crawling on the rock. I could see it plainly. I tried to call out.”