Part 4 (1/2)
”They are in the old well!” gasped Songbird.
”Ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho!” came from Tom, and he shook with laughter.
”Isn't that the dandy joke? I thought Stanley would go in, but I didn't expect to catch the pair of 'em.”
”Tom!” cried Sam, in new horror. ”You didn't really mean----”
”Sure I did. I put my cap there on purpose. Say, they had some tumble, didn't they?” And Tom commenced to laugh again--a strange laugh that didn't sound like him at all.
”They'll be drowned--we must save them!” exclaimed Sam, hoa.r.s.ely.
”Songbird, what can we do?” he added, turning to his chum.
”I don't know--maybe we can throw 'em a rope--if there is one around.”
”Let 'em crawl out--it's easy enough,” came from Tom. ”Don't you spoil the joke.” And he commenced to laugh again.
”Tom, don't act as if you were crazy!” said Sam, catching him by the arm and shaking him. ”Those fellows can't get out without help--it's too deep! And the sides may cave in on top of them! And there is water down there, too! We must help them, and at once.”
Tom stared at his brother in bewilderment. Then of a sudden the look of fun died out of his face and was succeeded by a look of horror and terror combined.
”Did I do that, Sam? Oh, what a foolish thing to do! Yes, we must help them! What shall I do? I'll jump down after them if you say so!”
And Tom started forward.
”No, don't do that!” Sam held him back. ”We'll get a rope, or a long pole. Don't go too close or you may cave the top of the well in on 'em.”
”Yes, we must get a rope, or a pole,” gasped poor Tom and ran off on a search. ”And I thought I was having a good joke! Oh, I certainly must be going crazy!” he muttered.
In the meantime Songbird had thrown himself on his hands and knees and crawled to the edge of the old well hole. He called out several times, but got no reply. He heard a great floundering and splas.h.i.+ng.
”Hi, you!” he continued. ”Are you alive?”
”Sa--save us!” came the spluttered-out words, from Spud. ”Sa--save us!”
”Are you both alive?” continued Songbird, anxiously.
”Yes,” answered Stanley. ”But we need help, for the water is over our heads. Get a rope, or something, and be quick about it!”
”Hang on the best you can and we'll help you,” was the answer.
”Well, don't be too long about it, or we'll be drowned!” came in a s.h.i.+vering tone from Spud.
CHAPTER IV
THE OLD WELL HOLE
The three youths at the top of the old well hole gazed around anxiously. All were looking for a rope, but no such article presented itself to their view. There was a bit of iron chain lying in the dead leaves nearby, but it was too short to be of service.
”I don't see anything to use,” remarked Songbird, wildly. ”Oh, Sam, this is awful!”