The strain of the current had probably weakened this, for the next thing they saw--Paul was tugging at the cable with all his strength, worrying it from side to side, kicking at the bow with the front of his heel, evidently trying to pull the ring from its socket.
"If that gives way, the whole thing goes over," cried Archey.

"I'll throw him the hammer." Even as he spoke the ring suddenly came out of the bow; and thrown off his balance by his own effort, Paul went over the side of the boat and in the same moment had disappeared from view.
"Gone ..." gasped Hutchins.

"And now that's going after him...." The boat was lurching forward--unsteadily--unevenly-- "Something chained to the bottom, all right," thought Archey, all eyes to see, the hammer still in his hand.

As they watched, the boat tipped forward--lurched--vanished--followed quickly by two cylindrical objects which, in the momentary glimpse they caught of them, had the appearance of steel barrels.
The two on the bridge were still looking at each other, when Archey thought to glance at the clock in his car.
It was on the stroke of ten.
"That may go off yet if the thing holds together," shouted Archey.

"It was built good and strong...." They stood there for a minute looking down into the darkness and were just on the point of turning back to the car when an explosion arose from the racing waters far below the dam....
Presently the wind, blowing up stream, drenched their faces with spray....