But the uprooted stump had fallen into the water with the opening
down. If there really was anybody in it, the way in which the stump
had fallen served to hold such person prisoner.

Ruth Fielding was as quick as Tom to turn back to the spot where the
old stump had been submerged; but Helen had fallen in her tracks, and
sat there, hugging her knees and rocking her body to and fro, as she
cried:

"He'll be drowned! Don't you see, he _is_ drowned? And suppose that
bull comes back?"

"That bull won't get us down here, Nell," returned her brother,
laying hold of the roots of the hollow tree and trying to turn it over.

But although he and Ruth both exerted themselves to the utmost, they
could barely stir the stump. Suddenly they heard a struggle going on
inside the hollow shell; as well, a thumping on the thin partition of
wood and a muffled sound of shouting.

"He's alive--the water hasn't filled the hollow," cried Ruth. "Oh,
Tom! we must do something."

"And I'd like to know what?" demanded that youth, in great
perturbation.

The stump rested on the shore, but was half submerged in the water
for most of its length. The unfortunate person imprisoned in the
hollow part of the tree-trunk must be partly submerged in the water,
too. Had the farther end of the stump not rested on a rock, it would