"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.
But fast failing strength, the helpless condition of Tommy Clifton, and
the hiss and splash of the water all around soon aroused him to a sense
of present duty.
"Help, help!" he cried, hoping that perhaps "Little Bill" and "Surly
Joe" might be within hearing.
He was just abreast of the narrow entrance to the passageway at the
foot of Hemlock Island.
Presently Dick Travers repeated the call; then he half closed his
eyes, and, with set mouth and contracted brow, renewed the battle.
Suddenly a shout reached his ears.
Dick Travers' heart bounded with hope.
"Keep up--we'll be there in a jiffy," were the words that floated over
the air.
Dick's senses were becoming benumbed; from which direction the sound
came he could not tell, but his plight had been discovered--that was
enough--and again came the encouraging cry, "Keep up!"
He summoned all his fleeting strength, but it was not sufficient to
enable him to raise himself above the waste of gray water.
Then a dark form suddenly appeared from the direction of Hemlock
Island, and he saw a boat headed straight toward them.
Nearer, nearer it came; and now he could hear the steady click of oars.
Again encouraging cries reached him.
"Great Scott! Jim Havens and Phil Levins," was the thought that flashed
through Dick Travers' mind.
Two oarsmen were rowing desperately, and, aided by the current, their
rowboat shot quickly ahead. As it loomed close above him, the figures
of the mountain boys vaguely reminded Dick of giants.
A wave larger than the rest was bearing down upon him, and in a moment
he would be buried beneath its foaming crest. Once more he summoned his
strength--he knew it would be the final effort.
Just as that terrifying line of white rose before his eyes, he felt
a strong hand grip his collar; he was conscious of seeing indistinct
forms before him, of hearing voices and of helping to lift Tom Clifton
out of the water--then a darkness obscured his vision.
When he opened his eyes again, Jim Havens and Phil Levins were gazing
eagerly in his face.
"He's all right," came from Havens. Then Dick saw that he was lying
amidst tall grasses, and that Tommy Clifton, with a dazed expression,
was sitting propped up against a rock.
"My," he whispered; "that was a narrow escape. I----"
"Quick--tell us how you got into the water," said Havens, excitedly.
"Where did your boat get to?"
"Yes, tell us," chimed in Phil.
"What's become of Bob Somers and the other boys?" asked Tom Clifton, in
a hoarse whisper.
"Then you don't know?" Dick Travers shook his head sadly. "The 'Speedy'
and the whole crowd was carried into the gorge. Isn't it awful?"
"I was afraid of that," cried Havens, in dismay. "Great Cæsar!"
"Carried into the gorge of Canyon River?" gasped Phil Levins,
breathlessly; "it can't be possible! How do you know?"
Dick Travers' voice faltered as he gave an account of their thrilling
experience, and when he had finished a silence fell upon the group.
It was broken by Dick, who inquired, "How did you happen to see us?"
"The 'Dart' is anchored in the passageway, behind that clump of trees,"
Havens explained, in a low voice. "Phil and I came over to get a few
rabbits, and hadn't been ashore but a short time when 'Little Bill' and
'Surly Joe' came along in the 'Spray.' 'Little Bill' asked us what we
thought of his 'private yacht,' and both Phil and I felt sure he'd run
off with it, as he did before.
"Well, we were loafing around, when all of a sudden your shout for help
nearly startled the life out of us."
"And it's a mighty lucky thing I borrowed Grimshaw's boat this morning
and we towed it over," added Phil Levins. "Don't believe the clumsy old
'Dart' would ever have reached you in time."
"Dick!" exclaimed Tom, abruptly, "you saved my life!"
"And Havens and Levins saved us both," said Dick, warmly. "But, oh,
isn't it awful about our fellows? I'll never get over it--never!"
"What's to be done, Dick?"
"Don't know, I'm sure," and Dick struggled to repress the emotions
which surged within him.
The sky grew darker; the trees soughed mournfully in the breeze, and
the dreary aspect of nature was in accord with their feelings. Gloomily
they sat around, with no consoling thoughts to cheer them.
"Don't you think there's a chance for Bob and the others?" ventured
pale-faced Tommy Clifton.
"You know how it was with Howard Fenton," answered Dick. "This is a
fine ending to our trip."