He saw Tom's knees coming up out of the sand before he called:

"Now, Payson, you can give me a little boost if you like. Don't pull me
in ahead of Tom Reade, however."

Presently deafening cheers went up. Both young engineers were being
slowly, surely hauled to safe ground.

Then Tom and Harry reached a spot where they could rise to their own
feet and floundered. Tom started, then swayed dizzily.

"Steady, there, old Gridley boy!" mumbled Hazelton, slipping an arm
around his recovered chum.

Then the two young engineers reached the platform and a fresh tumult of
joyful cheering burst forth.

"Payson," exclaimed Harry, going up to the foreman, and holding out his
hand, "will you accept my apologies for all I said to you? I had to use
strong language, or you'd have held me back from Reade."

"I didn't believe he could be saved," returned the foreman, with a
sickly smile, as he grasped Hazelton's outstretched hand.

Tom, too weak at first to stand, had dropped to his knees at the side of
the unconscious laborer, over whom some of the bystanders were working
in stupid fashion.

"This man must have medical attention at once!" Tom declared. "Some of
you men lift him to your shoulders. Be careful not to jolt him, but