As Harry had said, the stream cut across a corner of the cavern,
disappearing beneath the opposite wall, forming a triangle bound
by two sides of the cavern and the stream itself. I saw plainly
that it would be impossible for me to move any distance for at
least a few days, and that triangle appeared to offer the safest
and most comfortable retreat.
I spoke to Harry, and he waded across the stream to try its
depth. From the other side he called that the water was at no
point more than waist-high, and Desiree and I started to cross;
but about the middle I felt the current about to sweep me off my
feet. Harry waded in and helped me ashore.
On that hard rock we lay for many weary hours. We had no food;
but for that I would soon have been myself again, for, though my
wounds were numerous, they were little more than scratches, with
the exception of the gash on my shoulder. Weakened as I was by
loss of blood, and lacking nourishment, I improved but slowly,
and only the cold water kept the fever from me.
Twice Harry went out in search of food and of an exit from the
cavern. The first time he was away for several hours, and
returned exhausted and empty-handed and without having found any
exit other than the one by which we had entered.
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