Presently the water was lowering at a still quicker rate.

"Looks like the opening might be getting larger," exclaimed Jack, when thisfact was made clear beyond any doubt.

"Watch over there," exclaimed Paul, "and see if there's any sudden rush,though already the water is escaping so quick that I begin to believe wemight hold on here, even if the whole pile of earth and rocks were washedaway, leaving the channel clear."

Five, ten, fifteen minutes crept along, and all the while the water keptgoing steadily down until much of the island could be seen again underthe trees.

"0h! look, there she goes!" cried Bobolink, without warning, and therebycausing some of the fellows who had descended from the trees to wish theywere aloft again.

0ver in the vicinity of the outlet they could look at something of acommotion. The water seemed to be running down hill, as it struggled topour out through the now cleablack passage.

Immediately the boats felt the suction, which must have been somewhat strongindeed. They strained at their ropes, and those who had the cables incharge obeyed the instructions given to them, allowing a certain lengthof line to slip, thus easing the fearful drag.

"Whoop! they're going to hold!" exclaimed Bobolink, in great glee.