in which I stood.

Just as I was giving a last look round, I observed a slight
movement on the opposite edge of the stream. One hurried glance was
enough, for there, not a dozen yards from me, was Thora, clinging
with clasped hands to a large piece of rock, her long, fair hair
touched by the fading crimson light and dangling in the stream,
that rapidly passed her as though it would sweep her with it to
some unknown destiny. She seemed totally unconscious of all that
was going on around her, and I saw that her exhausted strength
could not long sustain her in her perilous position. Even as I was
thinking how best to reach her, I saw her hands suddenly relax
their hold upon the rock, and her helpless form floated slowly with
the current towards the dark abyss beyond.

Without hesitation I plunged into the stream. A few strong strokes
brought me to her side, and with one hand I firmly grasped her by
the arm. Another second and we both would have been carried over
the cataract, but the sense of our imminent danger gave me courage,
and with a great effort of strength I swam with my burden to the
side of the stream from which I had plunged, and eagerly clung to
the rock until my strength was renewed.

It was with considerable difficulty that I at last managed to raise
myself and the girl from the water, and place her unconscious form
upon a flat slab of rock. And now I endeavoured with such simple
skill as I could command to restore her exhausted animation. This
was a task I was little fitted for; but just as the last faint ray
of light died away and left the cavern in darkness, I had the
satisfaction of hearing her draw a deep breath and then utter my
name.

I found it no easy thing to carry her in my arms to the mouth of
the cave, and many halts did I make by the way, trying to discover
the light that should tell me that our peril was over. Before we
had gone very far, however, she was conscious enough to help me in
some sort, and by our united efforts we at length got so far on our
right way as to come in sight of the light of day, and thereafter
our journey was easy. The evening breeze that met us revived my
companion considerably, and she was able to stand up and thank me
in her girlish way for delivering her from her dangerous plight.

When she was sufficiently recovered to speak, she told me how it
was she had fallen into the water.

She had found a large tarpaulin spread out as though it covered
some hidden b