They did so. Frank was right, the water was at least ten degrees hotter than it had been. Not only this, it was growing hotter each minute, until it got so they could scarcely put their hands into it. “We are in for it now,” muttered Mark. “I don’t know what can be the matter, but something is surely wrong.” As if to add to the peril of the situation the raft now began to spin around and sank several feet, as if about to go down. All clutched each other, but soon the spinning ceased and the lumber moved onward as before, sending the flying spray in all directions. They had to cling fast with all their strength, for fear of being hurled off. “If we were on a river I should say we were rushing for some cataract,” said Mark. And then he added: “Don’t you remember, Frank, how we went over that falls on the Orinoco?” “I’ll never forget it,” answered Frank, with a shudder. “But, unless I am mistaken, this is going to prove a ten times worse adventure. That came to an end in short order--there is no telling where this will wind up.” Night had now settled down fully. There was no moon, and if the stars were shining they were obscured by the strange dust, which now came down as thickly as ever. They had to keep their eyes closed for the greater part and breathed only with difficulty. “If only we would strike land of some sort,” sighed Frank. “Even a few rocks with trees would be better than this boundless deep.” “I suppose the professor and Sam and Darry have given us up for lost,” observed Mark. “Perhaps the steamer went down, Mark. She must have been rammed fearfully by that heavy lumber vessel. A single stick of timber is a big battering-ram in itself.” They questioned the Norwegian sailor, but he could not tell how seriously the steamer had been injured. “Da water come ofer me,” he said. “I mak big fight--no t’ink of da ships. I catch da lumber and hol’ fast. Den da ships go away and no can see dem t’rough da sturm.” It was a night long to be remembered. The hours wore away slowly. Each took a nap in turn, while the other two remained on guard. Sound sleeping was out of the question, for there was no telling what would happen next. If the truth be told, the anxiety of the two boys was heartrending. They would have given all they possessed, or ever hoped to possess, to have been upon _terra firma_ once more. But all times must have an end, and gradually a light in the East proclaimed the coming of another day. The sky was still murky, but not with the dust of the day before. Heavy clouds, not unlike thick smoke, hung over the southern horizon, and these gradually mounted higher and higher until the light of the rising sun was again obscured. The raft was moving on still, but more slowly. The water was just as hot as ever. “Do you see anything?” questioned Frank, as Mark got up on the highest point of the lumber to look around. “I think I do,” was the slow answer. “Orlaff, look here.”