My weariness left me as by magic, and I
struck out with bold and sweeping strokes; and by that lack of
caution all but destroyed myself when my head suddenly struck
against a wall of stone, unseen in the darkness.
I was stunned completely and sank; but the ducking revived me;
and when I returned to the surface I swam a few careful strokes,
searching for the wall. It was not there, and I had no idea of
its direction. But I had now learned caution; and by swimming a
few feet first one way, then another, and taking care not to go
far in any one direction, I finally discovered it.
My hand easily reached the top, and, grasping the slippery
surface with a grip made firm by despair, and concentrating every
ounce of strength in one final effort, I drew myself out of the
water and fell completely exhausted on the ground.
Under such circumstances time has no place in a man's
calculations; he is satisfied to breathe. I believe that I lay
barely conscious for several hours, but it may have been merely
as many minutes. Then I felt life stir within me; I stretched my
arms and legs and sat up. Gradually entered my mind the thought
of Desiree and Harry and the Andes above and Felipe shuddering
with terror as he flew from the cave of the devil.
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