Out of her sphere - University Library

26 OUT OF HER SPHERE.
as if the waters would not after all be cheated
of their prey, some stones which had long
been crumbling into decay gave way at
last, and the waves swept in with such a
force that the poor, cowering creature stand-
ing there, almost afraid to breathe, lest her
very life should be forfeited, was sucked
underneath them as they swept in trium-
phantly, dashing down, in the same mo-
ment, the wretched man who stood upon
the slimy steps, which for the last moment
had almost lifted him out of their clutch,
and then, as if rejoicing that then- two
victims were at last secured, gambolling
and playing and lapping more like tiger and
tigress than ever, as they mounted higher
and higher yet in the tomb that held their
prey, or followed closer up the steps on
which they had hurled him down, the man
who had so nearly eluded their embrace.