Stop--what was this? The cord that was dragging behind him tightened; it grew tighter still--it stopped his progress!
He waited, and looked back to see how the hemp had become fastened, but the surface of the water was without a break.
It held, and as it gradually tightened more and more, there slowly arose to the top, the limb of a huge tree that had probably been carried down the stream by the spring freshet.
The knot at the end of the rope had dragged itself fast in a notch between two of the smaller branches, and before it could loose itself, Jack caught the larger branch, and locked his feet tightly around it.
His weight threw the tree still more on its side, and this placed him high and dry several feet above the surface, and about a rod above the falls!
The position was a terrifying one. It made him dizzy to look at the boiling water as it fell, and the vortex below was awful to contemplate.
"I suppose this tree won’t stick fast forever," he thought, "and even if it does, how can I ever hope to reach shore from here?"
How long he remained in this trying position, with life on one side, and death on the other, Jack never knew. He clung fast as never before, and to secure himself still further, tied the rope fast to the tree and to his own body.
It was now broad daylight. Surely some one passing on either shore would see and assist him.
But hour after hour dragged along, and no one came. It was getting toward noon, and the sun sent a glare all over the sparkling water.
What was this dark object that was floating so rapidly toward him?
The young machinist uttered an exclamation. The body came within his reach, and leaning over, he stayed its progress.
[Illustration: THE BODY CAME WITHIN HIS REACH, AND LEANING OVER, HE STAYED ITS PROGRESS]
The form was limp and motionless, the eyes closed.
"Mont Gray!" he shrieked. "Oh, Mont, Mont, are you dead?"
Jack was never so amazed in his life as when he discovered that the pale, senseless form that he had dragged upon the tree beside him was no less a person than his friend, Mont Gray. But at that moment, he did not stop to question how the young man had gotten into a position similar to his own. His one thought was whether or not his friend was alive.