"And the child! the child!" cried the agonized Prince.
Raiden thrust his arms despairingly into the yawning hole, black and tumultuous as it was.
"Nothing! nothing!" said he, grinding his teeth. "He has been carried off by the force of the water."
At this moment cries were heard from one of the neighboring junks. Lights flashed hither and thither on the deck; they seemed in the darkness to move through the air of their own will.
"Our friends may need us," said Nata.
"We cannot desert that poor boy," said the Prince, "while there is a hope of saving him; we will not stir from the spot."
All at once Raiden uttered a shout of joy; he felt a small cold hand upon the edge of the hole in the ship's side. He soon drew the child out, and dropped him into the boat.
Loo did not stir; he had fainted. Raiden climbed hastily into the boat, dripping wet as he was.
"That poor fellow is about done for," said Nata, pushing off from the junk.
"Let us join the others," said Nagato; "perhaps they have not finished their work."