So now they ran down to the dock, debating whether to take out one of the canoes or to swim around near the dock.
“Might as well swim close to home,” said Nell, as she stood close to the edge of the dock, hands over her head in a diving posture, and regarded her reflection in the water. “Then we’ll be on hand to keep a lookout for the boys.”
She leaned a bit too far out over the water and lost her balance. Jessie and Amy saw her fall forward suddenly and heard her give a little cry that was more of astonishment than fear. Then the water closed over her.
The two girls ran forward, laughing, for the water at this point was only four or five feet, and it was impossible for a swimmer like Nell to drown in that depth.
What they had not seen was this—that, as she went down, Nell struck her head upon the edge of the dock. They saw only that she had not come up.
“She must be swimming under water,” said Jessie, not yet seriously alarmed. “Run around to the other side of the dock, Amy.”
Amy obeyed, and still no sign of Nell. As she came running back she saw that Jessie was already poised for a dive. There was a splash. Jessie disappeared, then rose to the surface, shaking the water from her eyes.
“She—must be—under the dock!” she gasped, and disappeared again.
“Under the dock!” thought Amy, a swift fear at her heart. She had heard of people swimming around and around under a dock, unable to find their way out, drowning because they could not come up for air. But this was such a little dock! Almost with the thought she also struck the water.
She came up for air and saw Jessie dragging something inert. She caught one glimpse of a white face and turned sick with dread.