"I can see nothing; we are still; there are no waves lapping, but only a steady swirl of water softly running against the hawser. I can hear men's voices calling, near and far, and the roll and creak of oars in the rowlocks. A gun is fired somewhere; the echo of it seems far away. There is tramping of feet overhead,and ropes and chains are dragged along. What is this?There is a gleam of light; I can feel the air blowing upon me."
Here she stopped. She had risen, as if impulsively,from where she lay on the sofa, and raised both her hands, palms upwards, as if lifting a weight. Van Helsing and I looked at each other with understanding.Quincey raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at her intently, whilst Harker's hand instinctively closed round the hilt of his Kukri. There was a long pause.We all knew that the time when she could speak was passing; but we felt that it was useless to say anything.Suddenly she sat up, and, as she opened her eyes, said sweetly:—