It had been preceded by another cry, as the boy and the sapling he was twisted round toppled into the river together, uprooted stones and clods pounding after them and discolouring the pool into which the torrent rushes between rocks, to swirl frantically before it dives down a narrow channel and leaps into another caldron.
There was no climbing down those precipitous rocks.

Corp was shouting, gesticulating, impotent.

"How can you stand so still ?" he roared.
For Tommy was standing quite still, like one not yet thoroughly awake.

The boy's head was visible now and again as he was carried round in the seething water; when he came to the outer ring down that channel he must infallibly go, and every second or two he was in a wider circle.
Tommy was awake now, and he could not stand still and see a boy drown before his eyes.

He knew that to attempt to save him was to face a terrible danger, especially as he could not swim; but he kicked off his boots.