Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/253



and down and still down went Dave, with Link Merwell in front of him. Daylight was left behind with a suddenness that was appalling. The brushwood scratched our hero's face and he could not repress a cry of alarm. Merwell screamed loud and long and an echo came back that was weird and ghostlike. Then came a mighty splash, and both boys went into the water over their heads.

Dave was a good swimmer, and as soon as he entered the water he struck out to save himself. He came up in almost utter darkness, so he had to go it blindly, not knowing in what direction to turn. Then he heard a wild spluttering and knew the sounds came from his enemy.

"Merwell!"

"Oh, Porter! Sa-save me, please!" gasped Link Merwell.

"Why don't you swim?—that is what I am doing."

"I—I—struck my head on a rock! Oh, save