heaves itself into the fire--the bending, crowding mile-wide surface
of Plum Creek found a sudden outlet. And right in the center of that
outlet was a plunging tiny boat.

"Help!" rang out one choked-off cry, as in a great rush of suddenly
foaming flood, over the dam plunged a boat and a terrorized boy.




CHAPTER II

A HOPELESS SEARCH


In the brief instant that Jerry stood on the slippery point of rock
he had the queer feeling that it was all a horrible dream, or at
least only an impossible scene from a motion picture. Where a boat
had been a second before was now only a seething, tossing down-
tumbling wall of brownish foam.

But his stunned inaction was quickly gone. Down to the very edge of
the flood he raced, almost losing his balance and toppling in. At a
dangerous angle he leaned over and peered into the churning water-
pit below.

Dave had come hurrying to his side, to miss his footing at the last
and plunge waist-deep into the current. A precious moment was lost
in rescuing him. When, both safe on the rocky ledge, they turned to
scan the depths of the fall, it was to see a dark object suddenly