But a jealous wave rose under the platform with devilish energy and turned it completely over, hurling the man with his inanimate burthen into the depths.

He rose, fighting madly for his life.

Now surely he was doomed! But again, as if human existence depended on naught more serious than the spinning of a coin, his knees rested on the same few staunch timbers, now the ceiling of the music-room, and he was given a brief respite.

His greatest difficulty was to get his breath, so dense was the spray through which he was driven.

Even in that terrible moment he kept his senses.