There the danger was great. The kibitka no longer drifted,
but spun rapidly round, inclining towards the center of the eddy,
like a rider in a circus. The horse could scarcely keep his
head above water, and ran a great risk of being suffocated.
Serko had been obliged to take refuge in the carriage.
Michael knew what was happening. He felt himself drawn round
in a gradually narrowing line, from which they could not get free.
How he longed to see, to be better able to avoid this peril,
but that was no longer possible. Nadia was silent, her hands
clinging to the sides of the cart, which was inclining more
and more towards the center of depression.
And Nicholas, did he not understand the gravity of the situation?
Was it with him phlegm or contempt of danger, courage or indifference?
Was his life valueless in his eyes, and, according to the Eastern
expression, "an hotel for five days," which, whether one is willing
or not, must be left the sixth? At any rate, the smile on his rosy
face never faded for an instant.
The kibitka was thus in the whirlpool, and the horse was
nearly exhausted, when, all at once, Michael, throwing off
such of his garments as might impede him, jumped into the water;
then, seizing with a strong hand the bridle of the terrified horse,
he gave him such an impulse that he managed to struggle out
of the circle, and getting again into the current, the kibitka
drifted along anew.
"Hurrah!" exclaimed Nicholas.
Pages:
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284