red, and exhausted, whirled round, and
beaten down here and there. At last his face was above the surface, and
he was being borne rapidly along a shallow stream, just as Wriggs had
described, with its smooth, glassy bottom.

Hope sprang up within his breast once more, for he could breathe again
at such times as he could get his head above the rapids; what was more,
he could fight for his life against an enemy more merciful than the
cascade over which he had been dashed.

But it was a terrible struggle for breath in the darkness of the vast
tunnel through which he was being hurried, and though from time to time
he touched smooth, water-worn rock, he could get no hold.

At length, after how long he could not tell, he became conscious that
the now swift, smooth stream was growing shallower, and recalling the
sailor's words, after many efforts he managed to gain and retain his
feet, wading onward, and sufficiently recovered to listen for the sound
of pursuit, of which there was none.

The noise, too, was dying out. There was a deep, murmuring roar, and
the low, whispering rush, but that was all.

And now the confusion in Oliver's brain seemed to clear off. His
efforts to preserve life so far had been instinctive; from this moment
there was more method. He began as he groped along to make use of the
gun to which he still clung, as a staff, but he had not taken many steps
onward in the way the water pressed and which he knew must be toward
daylight when self was forgotten, and the thought of his comrades made
him feel ready to sink helplessly once more and let the stream carry him
where it would.

Panton--Drew--the two rough sailors who had been such faithful
companions--the rest of the crew? Was he the only survivor?

"Ahoy-y-y-y-y!"

A long-drawn, hollow, echoing hail came from a distance out of the
darkness, and it was repeated again and again, before he could command
himself and reply. For his throat seemed to be contracted--relief--
joy--gratitude to Heaven, combined to make him, in his weak exhausted
state, hysterical, and his answering shout was feeble in the extreme.

But it was heard, and another hail came, which he answered with more
vigour, and the knowledge that help was not far away nerved him to fresh
efforts. These were encouraged by hail after hail, hoarse, hollow, and
terrible, as they were repeated, till all at once a voice sent a thrill
of delight through him, for he recognised it, and its