But, as I have said, the water came up to the point where the members of the expedition then stood. From there it made a sudden turn to their right, as they stood facing the river end of the tunnel. And it was this sudden turn—this shift in the course of the underground stream—which prevented it from engulfing our friends.
But it had engulfed Nort.
"I see what happened—or, at least, part of it," spoke Bud while the others listened. "The waters were suddenly turned on again, or turned themselves on, and shot this way. Nort heard them and ran down here to jump across the stream-bed, which was then dry. But he must have fallen over the edge of this traverse ledge, or channel, as I nearly did, and down he went!"
They looked, and agreed that this was very likely how it had taken place.
"But can't we save him?" pleaded Dick. "I'm a good swimmer. Let me try to get him! Maybe he's lying down there—on the bottom!"
He made as if to take off his coat, but Old Billee grabbed him by the arm.
"You'd only go t' your death, boy!" said the old ranchman hoarsely. "It's bad enough—as it is!"
"But what happened to Nort?" asked Dick, and there was a sob in his voice.
"He must have been carried away—down that stream—wherever it goes," asserted Snake Purdee.
"That's just the point, where does it go?" Dick asked.