He found he could keep his head above the water with little or no difficulty, and with a feeling of relief he endeavored to look ahead and see whither he was being carried by the rushing stream.
Puff! puff! The terrible cross fire of flame and smoke kept shooting over him a few feet above his head, making it one of the most fearful experiences he had ever undergone.
“My God!” thought the boy, “will I ever get out of this alive?”
But on swept the rushing current, and on went Leo, while the fire and flame roared over his head, ever and anon scorching his defenseless face.
But suddenly the flashes of fire ceased as if by magic, and all was in darkness.
The stream flowed through a tunnel, and it was this that the boy had reached.
Whizz! whirr! Away he sped, expecting every moment to strike upon a sharp rock and be dashed to pieces.
But no such thing occurred. Scarcely more than a minute had elapsed before he again suddenly whirled into the light.
Leo was now nearly exhausted from his frantic efforts to reach the shore, and it was fast telling upon him now.
The continual splashing of the water upon his face made it difficult for him to breathe, and he felt soon that he must give up.