Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-02-01


centre in the manner of the Maelstorm.
Tnen they would be spun round by the
gyratory movement, and then thrown off
from the edge ike stone from O sling
as the eddy broke.
Half an hour went by under such
circumstances with death imminent
each minute and each second. Sandorf
endowed with superhuman energy, had
not yet yielded in despair. He rejoiced
that his companion was almost sense
less Had he retained the instinct of
self preservation he would struggle, and
then Sandorf woald be obliged to leave
him to his fate, or both would be over
whelmed.
Nevertheless the state of affairs could
not continue very long. Sandorfs
strength began to fail him Every now
and then as he supported Bathorys
head his own would sink back into the
liquid pillow. Suddenly respiration
became difficult. lie gasped for breath.
he was choking, he was wrestling with
asphyxia. Often he had to leave go of
his companion whose head sank instant
~, bu invariably he managed to grip
him again, and that amid the wild racing
of the waters which shouldered back and
piled on each other by the occasional
narrowing of the channel Numbered
along in foam.
At last Count Sandorf thought that all
was lost. Batho:y slipped from his grasp.
He tried to rescue 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 hand
instinctively. His fingers closed in
clump of roots which were swimming by.
The roots were those of tree trunk
being brought down by the torrent.
Sandorf fastened ON to this raft and
dragged himself back to the surface of
the 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 a 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 O 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,
30 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
were like as they emerged. But there
was nothing as yet to show that they
were 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 were now and then struck against
the projections If it were not SUBJ
jected to a very violent shock its stability,
In spite OF the the irregularities of the
stream, s. med to be assured. It's speed
could not be less than nine miles an
hour, being equal to that of the torrent
that bore It
Sandorf had recovered bis GOODNESS. He
tTied to revive his companion, whose
head rested on his knees. He found
that his heart still beat, but that mis-
breathing was difficult. He bent over
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 a slight move
ment. More marked respirations came
from his parting lips. AT last few
words escaped his mouth.
wife My boy Matthias !"
His whole life was in those three
words.
stephen, do you know me do You
know me?" asked Sandorf, who had to
shout to make himself heard above the
wild tumult with which the torrent filed
the vaults of the Brico
Eyes! Yesl know you. Speak
Speak Your hand in mine!"
1--WE are no longer in immediate
danger" answered Sandorf "A raft is
carrying us. Where 1 cannot say,
but it will not leave usl"
g Matthias, and the donjonI"
eve are far away from it nowi They
will think we found our death in the
torrent, and assuredly they will never
dream of pursuing us. Wherever this
torrent flows out, into sea or river, we
shall go; and we shall get there alive
Keep your courage up, Stephen! viii
look after you. Be quiet for little,
and recover the strength you will soon
want In few hours we shall be saved.
We shall be free !"
"And Ladislas ?" murmured Bathory.
Sandorf gave no answer. What could
he say? Zathmar, after giving the alarm
from the window. must have been seized,
30 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 torpor. But Sandorf watched over
him, ready for anything, even to abandon
the raft if it happened to crash up
against the rocks which in the midst of
the profound darkness it was impossible
to avoid.
1t was nearly two o'clock in the morn
ing before the speed of the current, and
consequently that of the tree, began
sensibly to slacken. Evidently the
channel was getting wider and the
waters, finding a 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-
ranean pass was close at hand
But if 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. Ere.
quently there came grating noise as
the roots of the tree ground against the
roof. Then the trunk would stagger as
it recoil d from some violent collision
and swing off in new direction. And
then it would drift across the stream,
and twist and writhe till the fugitives
feared they would be wrenohed away.
That danger over-after it had been expe-
rienced several times-there remained
II