The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-02-12
[cHApTER ELEvRS-ooScLuDRD. ]

tcHArTER ELEvRS-coscLUDRD.l
not yet yleiued iii despair. lie reloiced
that his companion was almost sense
less. Had he retained the instinct of
self preservation he would struggle, and
then Sandorf would be obliged to leave
him to his fate, or both would be over
whrlmed.
Nevertheless the state of affairs could
not continue very long. Sandorfs
strength began to fail him. Every now
and then us he supported Bathory's
head his own would sink back into the
liquid pillow. Suddenly respiration
becnMe difficult. He gasped for breath.
he was choking, he was wrestling with
asphyxia. Often he had to leave go of
ms companion whose head sank instant
~, bu invariably he managed to grip
j m again, and that amid the wild racing
of ihe waters which shouldered back and
piled on each other by he occasional
narrowing of the channel thundered
along in foam.
At last Count Sandorf thought thatall
was lost Buthoiy slipped from his grasp.
lie tried to rescue him. He could not.
iiN li'Ni ipSp |Iti ilt lllIlscli Wuo
dlagg d down to the torrents bed.
a violent shock nearly broke his
shoulder. He stretched out his hand
insunctively. His fingers closed in u
clump of roots which were swimming by.
The roots We're those of q tree trunk
being brought down by the torrent.
Sandorf fastened on 10 this raft and
dragged himself back TO the surface Of
tie Foiba. Then, while he grasped the
root with one hand he sought for his
companion with the other.
A moment afterwards Bathory was
seized by the arm, and after violent
effort hoisted on to the trunk, where
Sandorf took his place beside him.
Both were for n time saved from the
danger of drowning but they had
bound up their destiny with that Of
their raft, and given themselves over to
the caprices of the rapids OF the Brico.
Sandorf had not lost his consciousness
for a moment He made it his first care
to make sure that Bathory could not
slip from the tree. By excess of pre-"
caution he placed himself behind him,
so as to hold him in his arms. In this
position he kept watch for the end. At
the first glimpse of light that penetrated
the cavern he would see what the waters
We're like as they emerged. But there
was nothing as yet to show that they
We're near the end of this wonderful
stream.
However, the position of the fugitives
had improved. The tree was about
twelve feet long, and the spreading
roots We're now and then struck against
the projections. If it We're not SAP
jected to IA very violent shock its stability,
in spite OF the the irregularities of the
stream, seemed to be assured It's speed
could not be less than nine miles IN
hour, being equal to that of the torrent
that bore 1t.
Sandorf had recovered his 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 ovel
and tried to breathe little air into his
lungs. Would that the preliminaries of
asphyxia had not injured him without
hope of relief
Soon Bathory made slight move
ment. More marked respirations came
from his parting lips. At last few
words escaped his mouth.
"Wife Ny boy Matthias |"
His whole life was in those three
words
"Stephen, do you know me do yoI
know mey" asked Sandorf who had Il
shout to make himself heard above thu
wild tumult with which the torrent tillee
the vaults of the Brioo.
"Yes Yes l know you, Speak
| Speak Your hand in mine! !"
1--WE are no longer in immediate
danger" answered Sandorf "A raft i
carrying us, Where? 1 cannot say
but it will not leave us"
| Matthias, and the donjon?"
| "We are far away from it now The,
will think We found our death in tn
torrent, and assuredly they will neve
dream of pursuing us Wherever thi
torrent flows out, into sea or river, W
shall go and we shall get there alive
Keep your courage up, Stephen l WI
look after you. BE quiet for little
Il anu recover the stlenBlu yqq VIII SUI
want In a few hours we shall be sayel
We shall be free !"
"And IIadislas ?" murmured Bathory
Sandof gave no answer, What Goul
he sayG Zathmar, after giving the alarl
from the window, must have been seizeC
SO that fight was impossible, and no
under strict guard could in no way
helped by his friends.
Stephens head again fell back, II
had not the physical energy to mast'
his torpor But Sandorf watched oy'
him, ready for anything, even to abandc
the raft ii it happened to crash U
against the rocks which in the midst
the profound darkness it was impossib
to avoid,