“That begins to sound like rapids.  See that the spears are fastened securely, and stand ready with your oar.  Sit tight, Desiree.”

One thing was certain:  there was nothing to do but go ahead.  On both sides the walls of the tunnel rose straight up from the surface of the water; there was nowhere room for a landing-place —­not even a foot for a purchase to stay our flight.  To go back was impossible; at the rate the current 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 had taken.  Presently she turned about; her eyes opened and she pressed her hands to her head.