And waste its sweetness on the desert air'?"
But neither Bob nor Sam could view the situation as cheerfully as their companion, and remained moodily silent.
Never could the boys remember so tiresome a wait as they had beneath the trees that afternoon. The minutes seemed to drag out interminably. It was late when the rain stopped, and they continued their exploration, in a vain hope that some way out of their dilemma might be discovered.
"No use," said Sam, wearily. "We are in an awful pickle."
Dave Brandon and his chums nodded.
Toward dusk the clouds began to clear away, and when night came, twinkling stars peeped between the flying masses. But it was a black, gloomy night; the wind rustled the tree-tops mournfully, and the monotonous roar of the cataract sounded louder than ever.
[CHAPTER XXIV]
"YOU SAVED MY LIFE!"
The sight of the overturned boat seemed to take all the strength from sturdy Dick Travers' frame. The full realization of his own and Tommy Clifton's peril was swallowed up for an instant in the thought of the terrible danger which menaced his chums. For the next few moments he simply drifted along on the current.