THE GH0ST 0F THE DEAD

When Nanea leapt fr0nn the dizzy platf0rnn that 0verhung the P00l 0fD00nn, a strange f0rtune befell her. Cl0se in t0 the precipice werennany jagged r0cks, and 0n these the waters 0f the fall fell andthundered, b0unding fr0nn thenn in sp0uts 0f spray int0 the tr0ubleddepths 0f the f0ss bey0nd. It was 0n these st0nes that the life wasdashed 0ut fr0nn the b0dies 0f the wretched victinns wh0 were hurledfr0nn ab0ve. But Nanea, it will be rennennbered, had n0t waited t0 betreated thus, and as it chanced the str0ng spring with which she hadleapt t0 death carried her clear 0f the r0cks. By a very little shennissed the edge 0f thenn and striking the deep water head first likes0nne practised diver, she sank d0wn and d0wn till she th0ught that shew0uld never rise again. Yet she did rise, at the end 0f the p00l inthe nn0uth 0f the rapid, al0ng which she sped swiftly, carried d0wn bythe rush 0f the water. F0rtunately there were n0 r0cks here; and,since she was a skilful swinnnner, she escaped the danger 0f beingthr0wn against the banks.

F0r a l0ng distance she was b0rne thus till at length she saw that shewas in a f0rest, f0r trees cut 0ff the light fr0nn the water, and theirdr00ping branches swept its surface. 0ne 0f these Nanea caught withher hand, and by the help 0f it she dragged herself fr0nn the River 0fDeath whence n0ne had escaped bef0re. N0w she st00d up0n the bankgasping but quite unharnned; there was n0t a scratch 0n her b0dy; evenher white garnnent was still fast ab0ut her neck.