Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 2).djvu/608

 against the cliffs on either side. At that moment the little boat rose high upon a wave; then, diving downwards, was dashed against a rock.

Otto pushed forward, and, climbing up, seized hold of the twisted roots of a bush, and swung himself on to the stones with a great cry of joy. But, Anna! he must save her. Again he jumped back into the boat to seize her and bring her ashore, when at the same moment the boat was driven from the rock, and darted again into the roaring waters.

The poor boy sank at her feet. "All is over!" he cried. "There is no help for us now, Anna!"

He took the little basket from behind her, and carefully lifting out the bridal wreath placed it on her brow. With an unspeakably loving and tender smile, she whispered: "Otto!"

The boat flew onwards, tossed and pitched upon the foaming waves. The water was seething and roaring as though alive; high above them the cliffs nearly met, shutting out the stars of heaven.

Suddenly the boat was shot into black darkness. The roaring noise was fearful. The frail skiff plunged and tossed; the waves dashed over the two terrified young creatures who, clinging together, cowered down at the bottom of the boat.

They had arrived at the "Dragon's Hole!"

Over the terrific roaring of the water they could hear how the boat groaned and creaked; often it was dashed against the rocks and whirled round in an eddying pool. But its planks held firm. Quicker and quicker it darted forward into the grotto—forward to unknown and unimagined horrors.

Anna seemed to swoon, but Otto could feel that her lips moved gently. The cave was here so low that the bow of the boat struck more than once against the low-hanging rocks. The roaring of the waters grew louder and louder, and heavy drops fell on them from above. Then the cavern seemed to widen. In the distance was heard a dull booming roar, which came nearer and nearer, until in an incredibly short time it sounded like the noise of a most terrific storm. A thick wet mist, the spray of the breaking waves enveloped them, and the sound was in their ears like rolling thunder. Faster and faster flew the boat. Otto, raising himself, cried out, "Anna, once again I beg you to forgive me!"

She could not hear his words. The deafening noise half stunned her. The boat darted like an arrow through the deep water. Then came a fearful shock, and it stuck fast between the rocks.

Otto jumped up, and, seizing hold of Anna, lifted her out upon the stony ground. The boat was jammed between the rocks, her bow well out of the water, and the spray dashing over her.

But the two young people were on solid ground again. They clambered up over the rocks in pitchy darkness, till they felt themselves on a smooth, level spot. There they sank down, side by side.

"Perhaps we may find a way out of this, Anna!" shouted Otto, in fresh hope.

Suddenly the girl gave a piercing scream, and seized hold of her companion convulsively. An icy cold reptile had crawled over her foot. She shuddered as she shook it off.

Then they tried to dry their clothes. As Otto turned his coat over, a light, thin stick covered with paper fell into his hands. It was one of the fireworks which he had prepared for the fête, and he must have put it into his pocket without thinking. A thought struck him. He hastily searched through all his pockets, and found a most welcome object in the shape of a tinder-box, which he was in the habit of carrying with him when he went out shooting.

"Now, Anna," he shouted in the girl's ear, "we shall have light!"

He began striking the rock with a bit of flint. At first no sparks came; it was as though the very flint was deprived of all powers of light in this damp, dark grotto. However, he worked on untiringly; he tried it at various places, and behold at last there came a starry spark. An exclamation of delight, continued efforts, and the sparks came more frequently, and at last the tinder was alight.

Otto placed his firework on a stone, with a little piece of the burning tinder close against it. Then he stood on one side, placing Anna at a safe distance behind him.

Round about them all was still dark as night. Then suddenly there came a flash of light darting upwards in dazzling brightness, high up along the grey and beetling crags; everything was aglow; wondrous shapes of many colours stood round about the vast grotto; and down in the abyss below foamed and hissed the fiery vapours of the terrible torrent, while Anna stood there pale as any of the dripping fossil