"We can't stay here forever."
"True, but if we make a move we may sink deeper than ever, and then it will be all up with us."
A dead silence of several minutes followed. Presently both of the lads grew desperate.
"We'll have to do something, that's certain," Dave began, when of a sudden the driftwood sank once more, and they found themselves struggling wildly in the black waters at the bottom of the hole.
They were soon over their heads, and now found a strong current carrying them they knew not where. They had hold of each other, but soon the force of the water wrenched them apart.
Down and down went Dave, and turned over half a dozen times.
He felt as if he must be journeying toward the center of the earth, when he reached out his hand and struck a series of smooth rocks.
He tried to hold fast, but this was impossible, and in a twinkle he turned over again, and then his feet struck on something of a sandy beach.
Hardly knowing what he was doing, he stepped forward, and then found himself clear of the water.
This set him to running, and on he went until he brought up with much force against a stone wall, and fell back partly stunned.