"I'm going down first, Danny," explained Dave. "Follow whenever
you may think you need to, but don't be in too big a hurry. Use
good judgment."
"Trust me," nodded Dan hoarsely.
With that Dave seized the visible part of the anchor cable and
went down, forcing himself toward the bottom by holding to the
cable. It was a difficult undertaking, as, after he had gone
part of the way, the buoyancy of the water fought against his
efforts to go lower. But Midshipman Darrin still gripped hard
at the cable, fighting foot by foot. His eyes open, at last he
sighted the loop near the anchor. With a powerful effort he reached
that loop, thrusting his left arm through it. The strain almost
threatened to break that arm, but Dave held grimly, desperately on.
Now he looked about him. Fortunately there was no growth of seaweed
at this point, and he could see clearly for a distance of quite
a few yards around him.
"Queer what can have become of the body!" thought Darrin. "But
then, the boat has drifted along slightly, and Miss Butler may
have sunk straight down. She may be lying or floating here just
out of my range of vision. I wish I could let go and strike out,
but I'd only shoot up to the surface after a little."
Many a shadow in the deep water caused Darrin to start and peer
the harder, only to find that he had been deceived.
At that depth the weight of the water pressed dangerously upon
his head and in his ears.
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