Even as the stairway canted he lost his balance; they were both thrown violently through the open hatchway, and swept off into the boiling surf.

Under such conditions thought itself was impossible.

A series of impressions, a number of fantastic pictures, were received by the benumbed faculties, and afterwards painfully sorted out by the memory.

Fear, anguish, amazement--none of these could exist.

All he knew was that the lifeless form of a woman--for Iris had happily fainted--must be held until death itself wrenched her from him.