forces its way through the cavern, and often it carries with it mud, stones, fossils, and bones of animals forth into the plains beyond. The saying goes that, in the days gone by, a race of dragons lived in those unexplored grottos, and that is why the entrance to them is still called the "Dragon's Hole." That strange animals must have lived in these caves is proved by the curious bones and skeletons washed out by the river. For some time past many men of science had intended to explore these subterraneous regions; but the undertaking was by no means an inviting one—indeed, perhaps hardly feasible. The inaccessible cliffs, the unfathomable depths, were terrible merely from the thundering roar that proceeded from the cavern's mouth.
And it was towards this awful snot that the helpless little boat was drawing! As yet it still floated gently on the ripples, wafted by the mild breezes of the lovely night of May, while the stars, in all their beauty, were still shining overhead.
"The paddle must be floating after us," said Otto; "it will surely strike against the boat!"
The boat was driven slightly over to the right bank, and Otto strove to use his hands as paddles. Then he held his coat spread out to form a sail—but all in vain. The boat drifted back into the middle of the stream.
"We are foolish to exert ourselves like this," said Otto, wiping away the perspiration from his face; "of course my father will have gone on ahead of us with carriage and horses, and they will drag us ashore long before we reach the Dragon's Hole."
"How can he know that the paddle has been thrown into the water?" thought Anna; "and even if he has seen it there is no driving road through this wild country. The river alone keeps on its course; no one can come to our rescue!" But she did not give utterance to these thoughts, not wishing to increase Otto's distress.
"To-morrow we shall have a good laugh at the whole affair," said Otto suddenly; "we shall be twice as merry after a joke like this. There is to be music in the afternoon, fireworks in the evening and something else besides—but what it is I am not going to tell."
"Hush! Otto," rejoined the girl, sadly.
Again they were silent. Nothing was heard save the plashing and gurgling of the water. On both sides of the river wood-covered hills now rose high.
"One can hardly believe it possible that the river flows so quickly," muttered Otto to himself; "here is the ravine already!"
"Otto seized hold of the twisted roots of a bush."
Standing up, he began to shout aloud—louder still. The sound re-echoed through the trees and against the rocks—then nothing was heard save the rushing waters as the boat glided on. Anna clung trembling to Otto's arm.
"If I take hold of you," he said, "and we throw ourselves into the water together, perhaps we can manage to reach the shore."
"You see how rough the water is, and the bank is steep. We must not foolishly court death, Otto; it would not be right. I will lie down now and close my eyes, and leave our fate to Heaven."
"Ah, it is easy for you, Anna," replied Otto, deeply moved. "But I—I shall die guilty of your death!"
The roaring of the waters grew louder and louder, and the waves dashed noisily
