"Now! do it!"
And Maurice, dropping away from the sweep, made a hasty jump for the place where the anchor and its cable lay.
In his haste he must have made a misstep, for suddenly Thad saw him stumble and vanish over the side into the boiling waters of the Mississippi!
A feeling of horror shot through the heart of the boy as he thus witnessed the catastrophe that had overtaken his chum.
He forgot all necessity for remaining on guard at the sweep, in order to prevent the boat from being carried out; but abandoning his trust he sprang toward the spot where he had last seen Maurice.
Throwing himself down on his chest he endeavored to penetrate the almost inky darkness that rested upon the water at that particular place.
But not a thing could he see at first; it was as though those treacherous waters had swallowed up his friend forever!
And just then he became aware of the fact that there was a sudden change in the movement of the shanty-boat, which instead of continuing to whirl down-stream seemed to be brought to a stop, and was tugging violently at some object that persisted in restraining her onward progress!
THE ANCHOR!
Yes, in his plunge Maurice must have knocked this over the side, and the heavy object, swiftly reaching bottom in that shallow spot, had brought the wild cruise of the craft to an abrupt conclusion.