Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/347

 tion, unfit to be trusted with the appliances of a superior civilization?

Reva, too, had read the terrible indication, and apprehended its full significance. The noble girl grew pale, but quailed not. Neither spoke. It was no time for words. There seemed but one chance left,—to turn the boat, and trust that our small remnant of motive-power would enable us to keep a course oblique to the current, so as to reach the shore somewhere above the falls.

I headed for the eastern shore, as the nearer, and also because I had noticed that the current on the eastern side of Grand Isle was much less rapid than that on the western side. For a time it seemed as if this plan would succeed. We reached within little more than a quarter of a mile of the shore. But at the same moment our remnant of motive-power became exhausted; and, seized by a powerful eddy, we were swept out to near the middle of the river, this time more than a mile farther down. We were now utterly helpless. Even the power of steering had ceased with the exhaustion of the motive-power.

I looked around to see whence aid could come, and waved a scarf at the end of a rod. Its being so near the dinner-hour, made it a bad hour of the day for us. Had our plight been perceived in time, efficient aid might possibly have reached us. As it was, I saw more than one boat dart forth, in eager answer to my signals of distress. One boat especially, boldly and skilfully steered. was headed so as to cut our course. Beside the steerer sat a female form, with garments fluttering in the wind caused by their rapid motion. We watched them, helpless to further their efforts even by changing the course