It was now but half an arm's length away. I
kept thrusting out my arm in a wild endeavor to avoid it.
Suddenly my outstretched hand found a purchase in a break in the
wall, but the force of the water tore it loose and swept me away.
But when I reached the same spot again I thrust out both hands,
and, finding the edge, held on desperately. The next instant
Harry's body was swept against mine, doubling the strain on my
fingers.
"The column!" I gasped. "Inside--through the wall--opening--I am
holding--"
He understood, and the next moment he, too, had grasped the edge.
Together we pulled ourselves, little by little, toward the
opening; for our strength was nearly spent, and the force of the
maelstrom was nigh irresistible.
It was as I had thought. The base of the column consisted merely
of two massive pillars, some twelve feet in length and circular
in shape. The water rushed in through each of the two openings
thus left, and inside of the column was the center of the
whirlpool, sucking the water from both sides. The water I had
seen; I had not counted on the whirlpool.
We had pulled ourselves round till our bodies rested against the
edge of the opening, clinging to either side.
Pages:
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229