was now carrying us we could not have held the raft even
for a moment without oars.

Soon we were gliding forward so swiftly that the raft trembled under
us; from the darkness ahead came the sound of the rapids, now increased
to a roar that filled the tunnel and deafened us. I heard Harry
shouting something, but could not make out the words; we were shooting
forward with the speed of an express train and the air about us was
full of flying water.

The roar of the rapids became louder and louder. I turned for an
instant, shouting at the top of my voice: "Flat on your faces, and hold
on for dear life!" Then I dropped down with my oar under me, passing my
feet under two of the straps and clinging to two others with my hands.

Another few seconds passed that seemed an hour. The raft was swaying
and lurching with the mad force of the current. I called out again to
Harry and Desiree, but my words were completely drowned by the
deafening, stunning roar of the water. All was darkness and confusion.
I kept asking myself: "Why doesn't it come?" It seemed an age since I
had thrown myself on my face.

Suddenly the raft leaped up under me and away. It seemed as though
some giant hand had grasped it from beneath and jerked it down with
tremendous force. The air was filled with water, lashing my face and
body furiously. The raft whirled about like a cork. I gripped the
straps with all the strength that was in me. Down, down we went into
the darkness; my breath was gone and my brain whirled dizzily.

There was a sudden sharp lurch, a jerk upward, and I felt the surface
of the water close over me. Blinded and dazed, I clung to my hold
desperately, struggling with the instinct to free myself. For several
seconds the roar of the cataract sounded in my ears with a furious
faintness, as though it were at a great distance; then I felt the air
again and a sudden cessation of motion.

I opened my eyes, choking and sputtering. For a time I could see
nothing; then I made out Desiree's form, and Harry's, stretched behind
me on the raft. At the same instant Harry's voice came:

"Paul! Ah, Desiree!"

In another moment we were at her side. Her hands held to the straps on
each side with a grip as of death; we had to pry off each of her
fingers separately to loosen them. Then we bent her over Harry's knee
and worked her arms up and down, and soon her chest heaved convulsively
and her lungs freed themselves of the water they h