The light on the landing suddenly glimmered, making a tiny orange glow.
In the dim light he saw Carlos was standing on the lower step, his great lips drawn back, his white teeth gleaming.
Don swam towards him and as he reached for the step, Carlos kicked out at him, his boot narrowly missing Don's face as Don threw himself sideways. He looked beyond Carlos to where Lorelli stood at the head of the steps, watching. He knew in a few minutes the rising water would bring him within reach of the huge boot. Unless Lorelli did something, he had the choice of drowning or having his head kicked in.
Lorelli acted. Picking up the crowbar, she crept down the steps until she was within range, and then swinging the iron bar above her head, she aimed a vicious blow at Carlos.
The negro half-turned, threw up his arm, but was a fraction late. The bar caught him on the top of his head and he fell slackly forward, sliding into the water.
Don made a grab at him, caught his coat, but his weight was too much for Don's failing strength. As he began to sink himself, he let go of Carlos and kicking out feebly, swam to where Lorelli, up to her waist in water, was holding out her hand to him. She pulled him, gasping, on to a submerged step. He heaved himself further out of the water. Then as he stood upright, he heard a faint shout that came through the steel door at the head of the stairs.
Catching Lorelli by her hand, Don staggered up the steps, as the shout came again.
Chapter XIII
THE LAST LAUGH
Water was above his knees as Don, his ami around Lorelli, reached the top step. They leaned against the steel door.
'Is that you, Harry?' Don shouted.
'It's me all right, sir,' Harry shouted back. 'I'm trying to get the door open. Can I use dynamite?'
'No!' Don shouted. 'We're right by the door and we can't get away from it. The water's up to us and rising fast.'
'Okay, I'll fix it somehow,' Harry said. 'Can you hang on for five minutes?'
'It'll have to be faster than that,' Don said as a sudden surge of water nearly had him off his feet.
'I'll fix it,' Harry said.
Lorelli clung to Don.
'They won't do it,' she said. 'They can't do it.'
'I've never known Harry to be beaten yet,' Don said, trying to sound more cheerful than he felt. He couldn't see how Harry could get them out in time. 'Hold on to me and take it easy.'f The water had risen to Lorelli's shoulders. In the dim light, her face was drawn and white.
They waited as the minutes dragged by, the water rising inch by inch.
'You still there, sir?' Harry's voice demanded suddenly.
'Yes. What's happening?'
'I've sent three of Giuseppe's men down to the lake. They're going to blast the pipe that's taking the water in to you. They'll be as quick as they can.'
'Fine,' Don said. 'Well done, Harry.'
'I'll be back,' Harry said. 'It won't be long now.'
Don held Lorelli above the water which was up to his shoulders.
'Keep your arms and legs moving,' he said to her. 'We've still got about three feet of head room. They'll fix it before it reaches the top.'
By now he was swimming himself, holding on to her with one hand.
The water continued to rise, although its speed had slackened slightly. Don reached up and touched the ceiling. In another three or four minutes, the water would be over their heads.
'Turn on your back, and get your head as far into the water as you can.' He supported her as she floated. 'Scared?'
'Not as much as I was. Are you?'
'I guess so, but it doesn't help, does it?'
'Felix is dead, isn't he?'
'Yes, he's dead. Don't think about any of them.'
'And I'm not even sorry. I feel as if he never existed.'
The dim orange light flared up suddenly, lighting up the uneven surface of the rock six inches from their upturned faces, then it went out, leaving them in darkness.
'Well, Alsconi has the last laugh,' Lorelli said. Her voice was steady. 'What a fool I was to think I could break away from him. Would it be better just to let go and sink?'
'That's a rotten idea,' Don said. 'We're going to get out of this. It's like the movies. They're always rescued in the nick of time.'
'They're leaving it a little late. I'm horribly cold.' Don had an idea that they hadn't more than a few seconds left. He reached up for the ceiling expecting to find it within a few inches of him, but his groping fingers encountered
