after him. Dimly I remembered that mine carried precious
specimens; a surge of anger passed, beating back the anguish.
I heard a sob from Chiu-Ming, saw him drop.

Drake stopped, drew him to his feet. We placed him
between us, thrust each an arm through his own. Then,
like swimmers, heads bent, we pushed on, buffeting that
inexplicable invisible flood.

As the path rose, its force lessened, my vitality grew,
and the terrible desire to yield and be swept away waned.
Now we had reached the foot of the cyclopean stairs, now
we were half up them--and now as we struggled out upon
the ledge on which the watching fortress stood, the clutching
stream shoaled swiftly, the shoal became safe, dry
land and the cheated, unseen maelstrom swirled harmlessly
beneath us.

We stood erect, gasping for breath, again like swimmers
who have fought their utmost and barely, so barely, won.

There was an almost imperceptible movement at the
side of the ruined portal.

Out darted a girl. A rifle dropped from her hands.
Straight she sped toward me.

And as she ran I recognized her.

Ruth Ventnor!