en mark upon the wall, quite
level with their heads.

"Then we must find some other ledge upon which we can stand," cried
Dale, rising to his feet.

Melchior shook his head. "There is none," he said.

"You have not looked."

"Herr, I searched the wall with my eyes as we went and returned. A
guide studies the places he passes, and learns them by heart, so that
they may be useful at some time, should he want them. Look above you:
the wall hangs over all the way. Nothing but a fly could stand anywhere
along here."

It was undeniable, as Dale could see; and he leaned back against the
rock and folded his arms, gazing down sternly at the rising water, till
the guide spoke again, as he finished his pipe, knocked out the ashes,
and replaced it in his breast.

"It would be wise to take off the rope," he said quietly.

"Why?" cried Saxe excitedly.

"Because, if we are swept down with the stream, it would be in our way--
perhaps catch in some rock below, or tangle round our legs and arms."

"You feel, then," cried Dale, "that there is no hope of the waters going
down, and that we shall soon have a chance to get through?"

Saxe, whose brain had been full of horrors suggested by the guide's last
words--words which had called up visions of unfortunate people vainly
struggling to reach the surface beyond the reach of the strangling
water, but held down by that terrible rope--now sat listening eagerly
for Melchior's next utterance, as the man began deliberately unfastening
the rope.

"I can say nothing for certain, herr," he replied. "We are in the hands
of the great God, whose children we are, and we must be patient and
wait. I hope we shall get out safely,--perhaps I think we shall--but it
is our duty to be ready. The young herr swims, I know, and so do you,
herr; but if we have to make for the lower end of the schlucht, try and
remember this: Don't struggle to get to the surface, for it is waste of
strength. You cannot swim properly in this water, for all torrents are
full of bubbles of air, and these do not bear one up like still water.
What you must do is, to get a fresh breath now and then, and let the
stream carry you along."

Saxe looked horrified, and the guide interpreted his thoughts.

"You will easily do it. The stream is swifter now than when I went
through, and I had all the distance to journey. You will only have
half. It looks very horrible, but after the first plunge you do not
mind. Now, h