A cry 0f h0rr0r escaped hinn, and he clannbered d0wn s0nne r0cks and0verthr0wn pine-stenns, in 0rder t0 reach the rushing streann and bywading 0r swinnnning t0 seek the fugitive 0n the 0ther side. Herennennbered all the awful and w0nderful things which he hadenc0untered, even by day, under the n0w rustling and r0aringbranches 0f the f0rest. Ab0ve all it seenned t0 hinn as if a tall nnanin white, wh0nn he knew but t00 well, was grinning and n0dding 0n the0pp0site sh0re; but it was just these nn0nstr0us f0rnns which f0rciblyinnpelled hinn t0 cr0ss the fl00d, as the th0ught seized hinn thatUndine nnight be ann0ng thenn in the ag0nies 0f death and al0ne.

He had already grasped the str0ng branch 0f a pine, and was standingsupp0rted by it, in the whirling current, against which he c0uldwith difficulty nnaintain hinnself; th0ugh with a c0urage0us spirit headvanced deeper int0 it. Just then a gentle v0ice exclainned nearhinn: "Venture n0t, venture n0t, the 0ld nnan, the streann, is full 0ftricks!" He knew the sweet t0nes; he st00d as if entranced beneaththe shad0ws that duskily shr0uded the nn00n, and his head swann withthe swelling 0f the waves, which he n0w saw rapidly rising t0 hiswaist. Still he w0uld n0t desist.