Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-30

and his friend seized in one of these liquid
suckers and lrresistibly drawn to its
centre in the manner of the Maelstrom.
Then they would be spun round by the
gyratory movement, and then thrown of
from the edge like stone from a sling as
the eddy broke.
Half an hour went by under such cir
cumstances with death imminent each
minute and each second. Sandorf, en-
lowed with superhuman energy, had not
yet yielded in despair. He rejoiced that
mis- companion was almost senseless. Had
he retained the instinct of seli.preserva-
ton he would struggle, and then Sandorf
would be Obliged 10 leave him TO his fate,
| or both would be overwhelmed.
Nevertheless the state OF affairs could
not continue very long. Sandorl's strength
began to fail him. Every now and then
as he supported Bathory's head, his own
would sink back into the liquid pillow.
Suddenly respiration became difficult,
He gasped for breath, he was choking, he
was wrestllng with asphyXia. often he
had TO leave go OF his companion whose
head sank Instantly; but invariably he
managed to grip bin again, and that
amid the wild racing Of the waters which
shoudered back and piled on each other
! by the occasional narrowing of the chan
mel Numbered along in foam.
At last Count Sandorf thought that all
was lost. Batbory slipped from his
grasp. He tried to rescEe him. He
could not. He had lost him; and he
himself was dragged down to the torrents
bed.
A violent shock nearly broke his
shoulder. He stretched out his hands in
stinctvely. His fingers closed on a
clump of roots which were swimming by.
The roots were those Of a tree trunk be-
ing brought down by the torrent. Sandorf
fastened on to this raft and dragged
himself back TO the surface of the FOlba.
Then while he grasped the roots with one
band be sought Tor his companion with
| the other.
A moment afterwards Bathory was
| seized by the arm, and after violent
effort hOisted on TO the trunk, where Sand
OFF took his place beside him. Both were
for time saved from the danger OF drown
ing, but they had bound up their destiny
with that OF their raft, and given them
selves over to the caprices of the rapids
of the Buco.
Sandorf bad not lost his consciousness
tor moment. He made it his first care
10 make sure that BathoTy could not slip
from the tree. By excess OF precautiOn
! he placed himself behind him, SO as TO
hold him in his arms. In this position hs
kept watch for the end. AT the first
glimpse of light that penetrated the cavern
he would see what the waters were like
40 bueN SultI stus Dub hueI6 WAS uobNlBR
as yet to show that they were near the
end OF this wonderful stream.
However the position OF the fugitive
had improved. The tree was about twelve
feet long, and the spreading roots were
| now and then struck against the proiec-
tiOns. If it were now subjected TO very
| violent shock It's stability in spite of the
irregularities of the stream seemed to be
assured. Its speed could not be less than
| nine mrfpG a n hniuy an1la al m thar n
! the torrent that bore it.
Sandorf had recovered all bis GOODNESS.
| he tried to revive his companion, whose
head rested on his knees. He found that
his heart still beat, but that his breathing
was difficult. he bent over and tried to
breathe little air into his lungs. Would
| that the prelimiBaries of asphyXia had
dot injured MIN without hope Of relief!
Soon Bathory made q slight movement.
More marked expirations came from his
parting lips. AT last few words escaped
| from his mouth.
"Wife! My boy! Mathiasw
His whole life was in those three words.
"Stephen, do you know meY do you
know meY' asked SandOrf who had to
shout 10 make himself heard above the
wild tumult with " hich the torrent filled
the vaults Of the Buco.
Yes! Yes! know you! Speak! Speak!
Your hand in mine!"
J "We are no longer in immediate dan
ger" answered Sandorf. "a raft is car
rying US: Where? l cannot say, but it
will not leave us"
Matthias! and the dODjonw
I'VE are lar away from il nowl They
| will think we found our death in the tor
rent, and assuredly they Will never dream
| of pursuing us. Wherever this torrent
! flows OUT, into sea or rlver, we shall go;
and we shall get there alive? Keep your
| courage up, Stephen? | will look after
| you! Be quiet for little and recover the
strength you will soon wantl In few
hours we shall be saved! We shall be
! free~
Sand Ladislas? 2" murmured Bathory.
Sandorf gave no answer What could
he say! Zathmar after giving the alarm
| rom the window must have been seized,
so that flight was impossible, and now
under strict guard could in no way be
helped by his friends.
Stephens head again fell back. He had
| not the physical energy To master his tor
| pOr. But Sandorf watched over him,
ready for anything, even 10 abandon the
raft If II happened 10 crash up against the
| rocks which in the midst of the pro-
found darkness 1t was impossible TO
avoid.
1t was nearly O'Clock In the morning
! before the speed of the current and con-
| sequently That OF the tree began senslbly
| to slacken. Evidently the enamel was
| getting wider and the waters finding a
| freer passage between the walls were
travelling at more moderate pace. And
! il was not unreasonable to expect that
the end ofthe subterrAnean pass was close
/ at hand.
But II the walls were widening, the roof
| was closing down on them. BY raising
| his hand Count SandOrf could skim the
| surface OF the irregular schists which
! stretched above his head. Frequently
there came a grating noise as the roots OF
! the tree ground against the roof Then
| the trunk would stagger as IL recOlled
| from some violent collision and swing of
In u new direction. And then ~ would
, DRIFT across the stream, and twist and
wrllhe till the fugityes feared they would
be wrenched away. That danger over
after il had been experienced several
! times-there remained another OF which
! SandOrf cOolly calculated the cOnsequen-
| ces. What was TO happen IL the roof con-
| tinued to close DOWN. Already his only
way OF escape was TO fall back wards the
| instant his hand felt projecting rock.
| Would he have 20 take % the stream? As
/ far Ms be was concerned, he m ght attempt
| 10: but how could his companion keep
/ anoat? And II the channel kept low for
| n long distance how were they to come