ng." All night
long did he continue in this dread position.

Morning dawned, and once more he had to endure the agony of gazing on
the bank within a few feet of where he stood, though as unapproachable
as if miles of moving water separated him from it.

Fortune seemed determined to torture him to the last extreme.

There was no hope of his gaining the bank above, and it now occurred to
him to look below. Craning out as far as he could, he made an
inspection of the fall. It was about thirty feet in clear descent.
Below, the water ran frothing away and soon became smooth and tranquil,
as if reposing after the violent leap.

Should he allow himself to be carried over the cataract? This was the
question he now commenced considering. If he could only have assured
himself that there was deep water underneath, he would at once have
decided to commit himself to the descent. But there was the probability
that he might be precipitated upon jagged rocks, and of course killed by
the fall. Besides, he saw that the banks below were steep on both
sides, and he might have to swim for a long distance before being able
to land. After a descent of thirty feet he might be incapable of
continuing above the surface of the water. At all events, he would be
in no condition for a long swim.

After long and earnestly debating the question in his own mind he gave
up the thought of making the too perilous attempt.

Notwithstanding the agony arising from his own position, he was not free
from concern for his comrades left upon the rock.

Willem and Arend would in all likelihood come after him, if they had not
already done so. One or the other, or both, might have left the rock
and been carried over the cataract in the night, unseen by him during
the darkness.

As the time passed on, his sufferings approached the point of despair.
They at length became so great that once or twice was he tempted to put
a termination to them by giving his body to the cataract, and his soul
to Him who had bestowed it. But this demon of temptation was driven out
of his mind by a mental vision of angelic loveliness.

The remembrance of Wilhelmina Van Wyk came before him like some fair
angel, commanding him to hope and wait. He obeyed the command.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

REUNION.

Time was passing. They upon the islet rock were getting very impatient
for the return of Congo. They were certain that he would bring
assistance with as little de