"We should worry about his name if he doesn't want to give it, hey?" Hervey said, winking at Gilbert. "What's in a name?"
Gilbert was shrewd enough not to mention Tom but to give his visit the dignity of highest authority.
"Well, this is a big surprise to me," he said, "and I'm mighty glad it's this way," he added with a deep note of sincerity and relief in his voice. "I was sent from the office to find you and give you this note. I tracked you to the pond and I thought—golly, I'm glad it isn't so—but I thought you went down in the quicksand. I near got into it myself."
"Me?"
"Yes, how did you——"
"Easiest thing in the world. I knew if I could get to the log—did you see the log?"
"It isn't there now."
"I knew if I could get to that I could jump from it to the pond."
"And did you?"
"Surest thing. I kept chucking the suit-case ahead and stepping on it. I had an old board, too. I guess they're both gone down by now."