He placed the body as comfortably as possible on the fork of the tree, and then watched eagerly for some sign of life.
There was a cut upon Mont’s brow, and presently a few drops of blood oozed from the wound, and trickled down his cheek.
Jack took this as a good sign, and he was not mistaken, for a few seconds later the young man gave a deep sigh, and slowly opened his eyes.
"Here with me, Mont," replied the young machinist, bending over him. "Don’t you know me?"
"Jack!" was the low response. "Oh, how my head hurts! Where are we?"
"We are?" Mont attempted to rise, but Jack pushed him back. "Oh, I remember now!" he continued, shuddering.
"Remember what?" asked the young machinist, eagerly.
"The push Mosey gave me over the bank. My head struck a rock, and I don’t know what happened after that. Where did you say we are?"
"In the middle of the river, just above the falls."
"How in the world did we get here? Oh, I see! You came out to rescue me!"
"No, I didn’t. Mosey pitched me from the old mill last night, and I’ve been in the water ever since. I saw your body floating along, and without knowing who it was, caught hold and landed you here."
"You’ve saved my life," exclaimed Mont, fervently. "I’ll never forget that, Jack!"
"I don’t know whether I’ve saved your life or not," returned the young machinist, seriously. "It depends on whether we can reach shore or not; we are close to the falls, and liable to go over at any minute."
Mont pulled himself to a sitting position.
"Better take care!" cried Jack, "or you’ll fall off. I am tied fast, and you are not. Here, take this end of the rope and bind yourself."
"Never mind. I’m all right now," replied the young man, as he viewed the situation. "It is a tight scrape, and no mistake," he added. "Wonder how this tree is wedged fast? Must be between the rocks."
"Yes, and it won’t hold fast forever," returned Jack.
"We must reach shore, if possible, without delay."
"Easier said than done. Now if we had a rope----"
"No; it isn’t long enough. Hello! something’s giving way already!"
At that instant the trunk of the tree quivered, and moved a foot or so nearer the falls.
"Hold fast for your life!" Jack called; "perhaps it has broken loose!"
He had hardly uttered the words before the tree snapped its fastenings and swept toward the falls.