The air was filled with water,
lashing my face and body furiously. The raft whirled about like a
cork. I gripped the straps with all the strength that was in me.
Down, down we went into the darkness; my breath was gone and my
brain whirled dizzily.
There was a sudden sharp lurch, a jerk upward, and I felt the
surface of the water close over me. Blinded and dazed, I clung to
my hold desperately, struggling with the instinct to free myself.
For several seconds the roar of the cataract sounded in my ears
with a furious faintness, as though it were at a great distance;
then I felt the air again and a sudden cessation of motion.
I opened my eyes, choking and sputtering. For a time I could see
nothing; then I made out Desiree's form, and Harry's, stretched
behind me on the raft. At the same instant Harry's voice came:
"Paul! Ah, Desiree!"
In another moment we were at her side. Her hands held to the
straps on each side with a grip as of death; we had to pry off
each of her fingers separately to loosen them. Then we bent her
over Harry's knee and worked her arms up and down, and soon her
chest heaved convulsively and her lungs freed themselves of the
water they had taken.
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