the lead. Here and there the bushes hung over the stream, and both
lads had to scramble along as best they could.

"Help! Help!" The cry came faintly, and then the two boys saw the
fellow in the water throw up both arms and sink from view.

"He has gone under!" gasped Sam. "Hurry up, Tom, or we'll be too
late!"

Scrambling wildly through the last of the bushes and onto some flat
rocks that, in this vicinity, ran out into the river, the Rover boys
soon gained a point which was less than four yards from where the
unfortunate youth had disappeared. Leading the way, Tom leaped from
one flat stone in the stream to another. Sam followed closely, holding
the searchlight on the spot where both hoped the fellow in the water
might reappear.

"Here he is!" cried Tom. And, as he spoke, Sam saw a dark object turn
over in the stream close to the rock on which his brother had leaped.
The next instant Tom was down on his knees and feeling through the
water.

"Hold my hand, Sam," said the older Rover. And as Sam took his left
hand, Tom clutched with his right the coat of the party in the river.
Then came a hard pull; and a moment later Tom had the dripping form on
the rock.

"Is he-- he-- dead?" questioned Sam, hoarsely.

"I don't think so, but he certainly has had a close call. We must get