The waters seized and swept me along, whither I knew not. There was a roar of thunder in my ears; my lungs felt like bursting.
Once, and to my recollection only once, my head was above the water, and I took a good deep breath.
The black flood caught me again and rushed on, swirling and eddying, holding me helpless as an infant in its grasp. Then, when the agony became wellnigh insupportable, I was able to breathe again, and, to my astonishment, saw the blue sky above my head.
At this I tried to smile; but all was suddenly blotted out. Something seemed to take me under the shoulders, to give me a push forward, and after that I lost consciousness.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE LAST BLOW.
"What shall I do with this Russian, captain?"
It was Mecsey talking, Mecsey very wet and bedraggled, but prompt and soldier-like.
"Russian!" I echoed, sitting up. "What Russian?"
Mecsey pointed to a half-drowned figure at his feet, and I recognized the officer who had led the pursuit in the caverns.