t against my breast and in my horror, as I
dashed away, I was some paces ere the dragging at my limb told me that I
had left my comrade to his fate. The next moment however, he was swept
up to me; and once more clutching his collar, and keeping his head above
water, I waded slowly along the tunnel, when again I nearly lost my
hold, for the same wet slimy body swept across my face; but raising my
hand, I only dashed away one of the long strands of bladder-weed which
hung thickly from the cross timbers of the roof.

It was no hard matter to bear my companion along with me, for I had only
to keep his head up, his body floating along the surface, but my
foothold was uncertain, for now the bottom was slimy, and my feet sunk
in the ooze deeper and deeper, for I was nearing the gates through which
the fresh water of the marshes was let in; and though the water was now
only to my middle, I made my way with difficulty, for there was a
perceptible current against me.

Breathing would have been easy, had it not been for my excitement; and
now a horrid dread seemed to check the very act, for all at once I heard
a heavy reverberating noise, and the thought struck me that they were
opening the gates, and in another instant the fearful rush of fresh
water would come bearing all before it--even our lives.

In the agony of the moment I uttered a wild unearthly shriek--so fearful
a cry, that I shrank against the side afterwards, and clung to a slimy
post, trembling to hear the strange whispering echoes, as the cry
reverberated along the place, and mingled with the lapping rush of the
water, the dripping from the root and a loud sound as of a little
waterfall in front.

Now came again the shape of something round swimming up against me, and
as it struck my side, I beat at it savagely, though I smiled at my
foolish fear the next moment, for it was one of the brandy-kegs washed
out of the boat. But horror still seemed to hold me, as I waded on
farther and farther, till once more the water began to deepen, and the
ooze at the bottom grew softer; so I stopped, listening to the heavy
rushing of water in front, where the drainage escaped, and washed
heavily down, deepening the tunnel at the foot of the doors; while in
that hollow, cavernous place, growing smaller moment by moment, the
rushing sound was something hideous. Danger in front, for the great
gates might at any time be opened; and danger behind, where the tide was
coming in ceas