thing she was certain, her strength was rapidly waning,

and she must reach the bank quickly.

With redoubled energy she struck out in one last mighty

effort to reach the shore. The tug of the current was

strong upon her, like a giant hand reaching up out of

the cruel river to bear her back to death. She felt

her strength ebbing quickly--her strokes now were

feeble and futile. With a prayer to her Maker she

threw her hands above her head in the last effort

of the drowning swimmer to clutch at even thin air

for support--the current caught and swirled her downward

toward the gorge, and, at the same instant her fingers

touched and closed upon something which swung low above

the water.

With the last flickering spark of vitality that remained

in her poor, exhausted body Virginia Maxon clung to the frail

support that a kind Providence had thrust into her hands.

How long she hung there she never knew, but finally

a little strength returned to her, and presently

she realized that it was a pendant creeper hanging

low from a jungle tree upon the bank that had saved her

from the river's rapacious maw.

Inch by inch she worked herself upward toward the bank,

and at last, weak and panting, sunk exhausted to the

cool carpet of grass that grew to the water's edge.

Almost immediately tired, Nature plunged her into a

deep sleep. It was daylight when she awoke,

dreaming that the tall young giant had rescued her

from a band of demons and was lifting her in his arms

to carry her back to her father.

Through half open lids she saw the sunlight filtering

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