But at this point, another wave
seized them and hurled them sidewise, half rolled them over, then
uptilted them until the Ida's nose was deep in the water.
They bailed like mad but to little avail for the waves broke over the
sides constantly. They could see little for the air was full of
blinding spray. Suddenly, after what had seemed an eternity but was
really five minutes of time, there was a rending crash and the Ida slid
into quieter water, turning completely over as she did so.
Enoch, as the sucking current seized him, was convinced that his hour
had come, and a quick relief was his first sensation. Then Diana's
wistful eyes flashed before him and he began to fight the Colorado. As
his head emerged from the water, he saw the Na-che land on all fours
from the top of a wave upon the overturned Ida, then whirl away. He
began to swim with all his strength. The mud forever suspended in the
Colorado weighed down his clothing. But little by little he drew near
the Ida, to which he could see two dark bodies clinging. The Na-che,
struggling to cross a whirlpool toward him, made slow progress. He
had, indeed, dizzily grasped the Ida, before the other boat came up.
"We can hang on, Hard!" gasped Milton.
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