made her a fixture, so that in spite of my efforts, it
could not move her either way.

Wash came the water again and again, and at every dash a portion came
into the boat, drenching me to the skin; while I now became aware that
Harry Hodson was lying stupefied across the kegs, and breathing heavily.

I made one more effort to move the boat, but it was tighter than ever;
and after conquering an insane desire to dive out, and try and swim to
the mouth, I let myself cautiously down on the inner side, and stood,
with the water breast-high, clinging to the gunwale. The next moment it
rose above my mouth, lifting me from my feet, and as it rushed back,
sucked my legs beneath the boat; but I gained my feet again, and began
to wade inward.

Yet strong upon me as was the desire for life, I could not leave my
companion to his fate in so cowardly a way; so I turned back, and this
time swimming, I reached the boat, now nearly full of water; and half
dragging, half lifting, I got his body over the side, and holding on by
his collar, tried once more for bottom. But it was a horrible time
there in the dense black darkness--a darkness that, in my distempered
brain, seemed to be peopled with hideous forms, swimming, crawling, and
waiting to devour us, or fold us in their slimy coils. The dripping
water sounded hollow and echoing; strange whispers and cries seemed
floating around; the mussels rustled together: and ever louder and
louder came the "lap, lap, lapping" of the water as it rushed in and
dashed against the sides and ceiling of the horrible place.

I was now clinging with one hand to the boat's side, while with the
other I held tightly by Hodson's collar; but though I waited till the
wave receded before I tried the bottom, it was not to be touched; so,
shuddering and horror-stricken, I waited the coming wave, and struck off
swimming with all my might. It was only a minute's task; but when,
after twice trying, my feet touched the bottom, I was panting heavily,
and so nervous, that I had to lean, trembling and shaking, against the
side. But I had a tight hold of Hodson, whose head I managed to keep
above water; and it was not until warned of my danger by the rising
tide, and the difficulty I found keeping my feet that I again essayed to
press forward.

Just then, something cold and wet swept across my face, and dashing out
my arms to keep off some monster of the deep, my hands came in contact
with a round body which bea