“Ye gods of Greece!” breathed the man. “What is this thing I see? Flesh or spirit? Man or god?” Again he swore at himself for neglecting to bring his sketch book and pencil.
“Hello, father! Where are you?” A girl's voice rang out, high, clear, and near at hand.
“Good Lord!” said the man to himself, glancing up at the poised figure. “I must stop her.”
One startled glance the youth flung down upon him, another in the direction of the voice, then, like a white, gleaming arrow he shot down, and disappeared in the dark pool below.
With his eyes upon the water the man awaited his reappearing. A half minute, a full minute he waited, but in vain. Swiftly he ran toward the edge of the pool. There was no sign anywhere of the youth.
Ghastly pale and panting, the man ran, as far round the base of the rock as the water would allow him, seeking everywhere signs of the swimmer.
“Hello, father! Oh, there you are!” Breaking through the bushes, a girl ran to him.
“What is it, pater? You are ill. What is the matter?”
“Good heavens! he was there!” gasped the man, pointing to the high rock. “He plunged in there.” He pointed to the pool. “He hasn't come up. He is drowned.”
“Who? What are you saying? Wake up, father. Who was there?”
“A boy! A young man! He disappeared down there.”
“A young man? Was he--was he--dressed?” inquired the girl.
“Of course he did. That's what startled him, I imagine. Poor boy! I fear he is gone.”
“He seemed to dive, but he has not come up. I fear he is gone.”
“Oh, nonsense, father,” said the girl. “I bet you he has swum round the bend. Just go over the rock and see.”
He dropped his paddle, ran up over the rock and down into the little dell on the other side that ran down to the water's edge. There he saw a tent, with all the accompaniments of a well ordered camp, and a man cooking breakfast on a small fire.
“Well, I'll be combusticated!” he said to himself, weakly holding to a little poplar tree.
“I say!” he cried, “where is he? Has he come in? Is he all right?”
The man gazed at him astonished, then as if suddenly grasping his meaning, replied,
“Yes, he came in. He's dressing in the tent.”
“Well, I'll be condumbusticated!” said the man. “Say! what the devil does he mean by scaring people out of their senses in that way!”