Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-01-15

hand felt projecting rock Would he
have 10 take To the stream As far rs
he was concerned he might attempt it
but how coull his companion keep ahoat ?
And il the channel kept low for a long
distance how were they TO come out OF
il alive? How indeed and was death
to be the end after SO many escapes
from death
Sandorf, energetic as he was, felt his
heart wrug with anguish. He saw that
the supreme moment was approaching.
The tree roots ground against the over
hanging rocks more violently. and at
times the top of the trunk was driven So
deeply into the current that the water
completely covered it
But, said Sandorf, 1.-THE outlet can
not be far off,
And then he looked TO see if some
vague streak OF light did not filter into
the darkness ahead. BY this time was
the night advanced enough for the dark
ness outside 10 have lifted? Was the
lightning still flashing beyond the Blico ?
Ii so, little light perhaps would show
itself in this channel, which threatened
10 get too small to hold the Foiba, But
there was nothing, Nothing but abso-
lutte darkness and roaring waters, of
which even the foam remained black ,
Suddenly there was terrific shock
~ it, forward end the tree had dashed
against an enormous pendant from the
ROOF. 49, it struck it completely turned
over But Sandorf did not let go of it,
With one hand he desperately chung to
the roots, with the other he held his
companion. And the tree sank, and
with it the men sank into the mass of
waters which then filed the channel to
the roof.
THIS lasted for nearly minute. San
doH felt that he was lost. lnstinctively
he stopped breathing so As to economize
the little air that remained in his lungs.
suddenly through the liquid mass,
although his eyes were closed. he
felt tho impression of vivid light.
\ lightning flash, it was, followed by the
noise OF thunder
II WAS the light, at last
The toiba had emerged from the sub
terruuean channel and was flowing in
the open But whittier was il flowing i?
On what sea coast was its mouth: That
was still tho insoluble question: ques-
ton of life or death.
The trunk of the tree had hoatcd to
the surface again. Bathory 10y strong
effort was dragged up and took his place
Mt the end. Then Sandorf looked before
him, around him, above him.
~ - "a /, l.. 1 RI
behind. This Vas the huge cliff OF the
Brico in which the underground channel
opened which gave passage to the watF
Of the Foiba Day was already showing
itself by the scattered stroabs of light
overhead, vague rs the ucbuln which
the eye can only just see on winters
night From time 10 time few pale
lightning flashes lighted up the back
ground amid the dull roll Of occasional
thunder. The storm was slowly going
or else dying away
Tothe right, to tho left Sandorf threw
a glance Of keen anxiety. he saw that
the river flowed between two high cliffs
and that ITS speed was terrific
They were IN rapid which was takiug
them along amid all It's races and eddies.
But above then head now Vas the intin-
lite. and no longer the narrowing vault
with its lodges threatening each instant
to crush them. But there was no bank
on which they could set foot, no slope
on which they could disombark Two
steep high walls shut in the narrow
Toiba, and it was really the old channel
with its vertical walls, but without its
roof of stone
The last immersion had greatly revived
Bathory. Hishand had soughtSandoIf's
who cIasped it as he whispered:
Saved"
But had he q right to use the words
saved, when he did not even know
where the river ended or what country
1t trayerscd or when they would be able
to abandon their raft? Such, however
was his energy that he sat upright on
the tree and three times shouted aloud
Saved Saved Saved 20
Who could hear himl No one on
these rocky cliffs whose boulders and
schists had not mold enough TO bear
even n bromble. The country hidden
by the high banks would be sought by
no human being a desolate country
through which the Foiba imprisoned
like an artificial canal between its rocky
walls. Not brook flows in to feed it.
Not bird skins its surface, not even
fish ventures into its too rapid waters.
Here and there huge rocks rise in it's
bed, and their parchcd SUBMITS show
that the watercourse with all its violence
is nothing but sudden OVERLOOKING due
b. heavy rain. AZ ordinary times the
bed of the Foiba is simply deep raviue.
The only danger now was lest the tree
should be hurled on the rocks. 1t
avoided them of itself as il kept in the
middle of the currents which swept
round them. But it was impossible to
check its speed 10 get TO shore in case
suitable landing place was noticed.
An hour passed and no immediate
danger appeared The final flashes had
died out IN the distance, and the storm
only manifested itself by the heavy