He gave himself up for lost--he thought of his old father even now poring over his books--he thought of Valmai's young life so suddenly quenched--and with one prayer for himself and her, he felt himself carried onward, tossed, tumbled over and over, but still keeping tight hold of his precious burden.
He was suddenly struck by a stunning blow, which for a moment seemed to take away his senses--but only for a moment--for what was this calm?
what was this quiet sense of rest?
was he sinking out of life into some dim, unconscious state of being?
had he seen the last of the clouds?
the moon--the stormy waters?
Had Valmai already slipped away from him?
No; he still felt her within his grasp, and in a few moments he was able to realise the meaning of the change in his feelings.

He had been carried like a shred of seaweed by that strong wave far up the beach on the mainland, and in its receding flow it had swirled him into a round cavity in the rocks, where as a boy he had often played and bathed and fished; he knew it well, and saw in a moment that he was saved! Clasping Valmai firmly, he ran up the beach, another combing, foaming wave coming dangerously near his hurrying footsteps; but in spite of the buffeting wind, he gained the shelter of the cliffs, and at last laid his burden tenderly down on the rocks.

And now the fight for life was replaced by the terrible dread that Valmai might already be beyond recall.
The clear, cold moon looked down between the scudding clouds upon her straightened form, the wind roared above them, and the lashing fury of the waves still filled the air; but Valmai lay white and still.

Cardo looked round in vain for help; no one was near, even the fishermen had safely bolted their doors, and shut out the wild stormy night.

A faint hope awoke in his heart as he remembered that Valmai had swooned before she was engulfed with him in the sea, and he set to work with renewed vigour to rub her cold hands, and press the water out of her long, drenched hair; he was soon rewarded by signs of life in the rigid form--a little sigh came trembling from her lips, her hand moved, and there was a tremor in her eyelids.