Of course, Nellie Laning had been very much worried over Tom's
condition, and his disappearance had caused her intense dismay. Since
he had returned to Brill, she had asked that he either call on her or
write to her at least once a week. Tom preferred a visit to
letter-writing, and as Sam was usually ready to go to Hope to see
Grace whenever the opportunity afforded, the brothers usually took the
trip together, as in the present instance.

Searchlight in hand, the Rover boys peered out over the surface of the
swiftly-flowing river, which at this point was about seventy-five feet
wide. The bridge was built in three sections, and it was the middle
span which had collapsed at the farther end, so that the automobile
had plunged into water which was at least eight feet deep.

"Do you see anything of him?" asked Sam, eagerly, as the rays from the
light flashed in one direction and then in another.

"If he managed to get out of the auto, perhaps he floated down with
the current," responded his brother. "Anyhow, he doesn't seem to be
around here."

"Maybe he was caught under the wheel. If so, we had better get him out
without delay."

"Look! Look!" And now Tom pointed. down the river. There in the
moonlight, both boys saw a form coming to the surface. The fellow was
beating the water wildly with his hands, and now he set up a frantic
cry for aid. Turning the searchlight in that direction, the Rover boys
left the vicinity of the broken bridge, and made their way down to
something of a footpath that ran along the water's edge. Tom was in