The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-02-12
before the speed of The current, and

~ before the speed OF the current, and
tlnsrquently that of the tree, began
nsibly to slacken. Evidently the
channel was getting wider and the
waters, finding freer passage between
the walls, were travelling at more mod.
crate pace. And it was not unreasonable
to expect that the end of the subter.
raneau pass was close at hand.
But if the walls were widening the
roof was closing down on them. By
aiSing his hand Count Sandorf could
kim the surface of the irregular schists
which stretched above his head. Ere.
quently there came grating noise rs
the roots of the tree ground against the
roof Then the trunk would staggcr as
it recoil d from some violent collision
and swing off in n new direction. And
then it would drift across the stream,
and twist and writhe till the fugitives
feared they would be wrenched away.
That danger over er-after it had been eXpe-
rienced several times-there remained
another, of which Sandorf coolly calcu-
lated the consequences. What was to
happen if the roof continued to close
down? Already his only way of escape
was to fall backwards the instant his
hand felt projecting rock. Would he
have to take to the stream ! As far as
he was concerned he might attempt it I;
but how could his companion keep afoatY
And if the channel kept low for n long
it alive? How indeed-and was death
to be the end after SO many escapes
from death
Sandorf, energetic us he was, felt his
heart wrung 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, the outlet can.
not be far of.
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 to have lifted? Was the
lightning still flashing beyond the Brico !:
If so, little light perhaps would show
itself i'll this channel, which threatened
to 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.
AT its forward end the tree had dashed
against an enormous pendant from the
roof. AS it struck it completely turned
over But Sandorf did not let go of it.
With one hand he desperately clung to
the roots, with the other he hold his
companion, And the tree sank, and
with it the men sank into the mass Of
waters which then filled the channel to
the roof.
This lasted for nearly minute. San
dorf felt that he was lost. Instinctively
he stopped breathing so as to economize
the little mir that remained in his lungs.
Suddenly through the liquid mass,
although his eyes were closed, he
felt the impression of vivid light.
A lightning flash, it was followed by the
noise of thunder.
1t was the light, at last
The Foiba had emerged from the sub.
terraneau channel and was flowing in
the open. But whittier was it flowing {?
On what sea coast was its mouth: That
was still the insoluble question-a cues
ton of life or death.
The trunk of the tree had fioated to
the surface again. Rathory by strong
effort was dragged up and took his place
at the end. Then Sandorf looked before
him, around him, above him.
Up stream dark mass was being left
behind This was the huge cliff Of the
Brico III which the underground channel
| opened which gave passage 10 the waters
| of the Foiba Day was already show4a *
itself by the scattered streaks of light
overhead, vague rs tho nebule which
the eye can only just see on a winters
night. From time to time a few pale
lightning hashe, lighted up the back
ground amid the dull roll of occasional
thunder. The storm was slowly going
or else dying away.
To the right to the 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 taking
them along amid all its races and eddies.
But above their head now was the infin-
ite, 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 disembark. Two
steep high walls shut in the narrow
Foiba, and it was really the old channel
with it's vertical walls, but without its
roof of stone,
Thelas immersion had greatly revived
Bathory, Hishand had sought Sandoifs,
who clasped it as he whispered:
"Saved."
But had he right to use the word
saved, when he did not even know
where the river ended or what country
it traversed or when they would be able
to abandon their raft? Such, however
was his energy that lie sat upright oI
the tree and three times shouted aloud
"Saved Saved Saved !"
Who could hear him9 No one oi
these rocky cliffs whose boulders an,
schsts had not mold enough TO bea
even a bramble. The country hiddel
by the high banks would be sought b.
no human being-a desolate countr.
, through which the Foiba runs imprisone'
/, like an artificial canal between its rock
= walls, Not brook flows in to feed il
Not bird skins its surface, not even
fish ventures into its too rapid waters
Here and there huge rocks rise in il