Timéa could not imagine what was happening that she should be so roughly treated, and ran to look out of the cabin window.
It was only that the ship had passed safely through the "gun-rocks," and was about to enter the Roumanian channel; but from the little bay the water rushes so furiously into the canal that a regular water-fall is formed, and this is the dangerous moment of the "Leap."
When Timéa looked out of the cabin window, she only saw that Timar stood at the bow with a grappler in his hand. Then suddenly a deafening noise arose, a huge foam-crowned mountain of water struck the fore part of the vessel, splashed its spray right against the window, and blinded Timéa for a moment. When she looked out again, the captain was no longer to be seen.
There were great cries outside. She rushed out of the door and met her father. "Are we sinking?" she cried.
Timéa had seen that: the big wave had washed him away before her eyes. But her heart beat no faster when she heard it.
Curious! When she saw the white cat drowned, she was in despair, and could not refrain from tears, and now when the water had swallowed up the captain, she did not even say "Poor fellow!"
Yes, but the cat had cried so pitifully, and this man defies the whole world; the cat was a dear little animal, the captain only a great rough man. And then the cat could not help itself; but he is strong and clever, and can certainly save himself. That's the only good of a man.
After the last leap the ship was safe, and swam in the smooth water of the canal. The sailors ran with grappling-irons to the boat to seek the captain. Euthemio held a purse up as a prize for the rescue of Timar. "A hundred ducats for him who rescues the captain!"
"Keep your hundred ducats, good sir!" cried the voice of the man in question from the other end of the ship. "I'm coming."
Then they saw him climbing up the stern by the rudder-chains. No fear of his being lost!