“Let me go,” said Tom. But Dan had already thrown off his coat and kicked off his shoes.
“Dan’s a better diver than you, Tom,” said Bob. “Let him try it first. I guess there’s plenty of breathing space under there, Dan.”
“Sure,” answered Dan, struggling out of his shirt. “Anyone heard the poor little chap lately?”
No one had, but at that moment, as though in answer to Dan’s inquiry, a faint, gurgling sound came from under the floor.
“There he is,” said Nelson. “I’ll stand here and call to you, Dan. You want to go under about twelve feet.”
“All right,” said Dan. “If I don’t show up inside of half a minute and you don’t hear from me, one of you chaps had better come in.”
“All right,” answered Bob; “I’ll be ready.”
Then Dan dropped feet foremost over the edge of the float and went down out of sight in the rushing green water. A moment after those leaning over the edge caught a glimpse of a kicking leg. Then several seconds passed. The crowd on the float listened breathlessly. At last, from under the boards and a few feet away, came Dan’s voice.
“All right, Nel! Where are you?”
“Here!” called Nelson, his mouth at one of the cracks.