Part 49 (1/2)

Her voice, subdued and low, breathed a sweetness that seemed almost to be of another world My ear quivered with the vibrations, and long after she was silent the last h my brain

Suddenly I became conscious of another sound, scarcely less musical

It, too, was low; so low and faint that at first I thoughtDesiree's song down the dark tunnel

Gradually, very gradually, it becanized it It was the rush of water, unbroken, still low and at a great distance I turned to remark on it to Harry, but Desiree took the words fro--like the surf,” she said ”That isn't possible, is it?”

I could have smiled but for the deep note of hope in her voice

”Hardly,” I answered ”I have heard it for several minutes It is probably some shallows We an to notice that the speed of the current was increasing The sound of the rushi+ng water, too, was quite distinct Still the raft an to feel alarins 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 roo-place--not even a foot for a purchase to stay our flight To go back was i us we could not have held the raft even for aforward 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 so forith the speed of an express train and the air about us was full of flying water

The roar of the rapids beca at the top of my voice: ”Flat on your faces, and hold on for dear life!” Then I dropped doithto two others with my hands

Another few seconds passed that see with the ain to Harry and Desiree, butroar of the water All was darkness and confusion

I kept asking e since I had thrown myself on my face

Suddenly the raft leaped up under rasped it from beneath and jerked it doith tre my face and body furiously The raft whirled about like a cork I gripped the straps with all the strength that was in one and my brain whirled dizzily

There was a sudden sharp lurch, a jerk upward, and I felt the surface of the water close over ling with the instinct to free myself For several seconds the roar of the cataract sounded in reat distance; then I felt the air again and a sudden cessation ofFor a ti; 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 ere 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

”Don't say 'Where am I?'” said Harry, ”because we don't kno do you feel?”

”I don't know,” she answered, still gasping for breath ”What was it?

What did we do?”

I left thee There was absolutely none; ere as intact as e started The provisions and spears remained under their straps; my oar lay where I had fallen on it The raft appeared to be floating easily as before, without a scratch

The water about us was churned into foah we had already been carried so far from the cataract that it was lost behind us in the darkness; only its roar reached our ears To this day I haven't the faintest idea of its height; it may have been ten feet or two hundred

Harry says a thousand

We wereon the surface of what appeared to be a lake, still carried forward by the force of the falls behind us For , and I picked up my oar and coed

Harry's voice caoodness, where did you get that oar?”

I turned