San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-12-21


canoe was seized by mighty force and
hurled downward, like bullet from a
rifle. They had struck another rapid
more powerful than the first, and the
rocks absolutely seemed to fly past
them.
"This is something like it, cited the
daring Buckskin San. "How we 40
move"
II should say VIC did, old boy" re-
piled Rip. Il am only afraid we are
moving too fast.
Don't you believe il; those fellows
seem to DO standing still, said Sam.
"They will get in tho current in q
moment" gasped Rip. Look at that.
The headmost canoe Of the Indians
appeared upon the crest of the rapid and
came flying down after the trappers at
Il furious speed. Tie Indians no longer
used their paddles with the exception
of the man who sat ut the stern and 10y
touch on the water, now on one side,
now on the other, regulated the course
of the canoe. The second canoe follow
ed in q moment, a little further in shore
As they gazed the bow Of the last canoe
was suddenly lifted into the air rs it
struck a brown rock in the channel,
which the occupants tried in vain 70
avoid. The fierce current caught the
stern, and in IN instant there was moth
ing left of the craft save broken frag-
ments, while the occupants, with loud
shrieks Of terror, were borne swiftly on
by the resistless tide. "That ends them"
said Rip Ford "Be careful, Sam, for
your life!'
On, on, borne by the power which
they could not resist, the two canoes
were hurried. There was scene of wild
exultation in the hearts of the white
men, for they could see that their enemy
would have gladly escaped if they could
from the perils that surrounded them.
Their mad desire for scalps and plumber
had led them into trap, and they no
longer thought of the canoe in advance.
They knew, as the whites did not, the
terrible danger before them, for they
had explored the banks of the stream on
foot many times. The river suddenly
narrowed, and the trappers rushed into
q canyon barely twenty feet wide, and
nearly rooted over by the cliff on each
side. The current was not quite SO rap
id here and they guided the canoe cas-
lily.
"This gets interesting, Rip, said Sam,
as they went on through the marrow
pass. ave are going" ITO our death, :"
interrupted Rip Ford, in a solemn voice.
"Do you hear the falls?"
Through the splash of water and the
dip Of the paddles they heard u low,
dead, tremulous roar, which was the
sound of falling water. For a moment
the bronzed face of Sam blanched, and
then he drew his figure up proudly say
ing: "Better than the scalping-knife
or stake, old friend. As the French
man says, 'Vive la mortp Long live
DEATH"
It was, indeed, before them, for as
they shot out of the narrow pass they
saw the falls-how high they could not
tell, but the smoke which arose showed
that it was not small one. Keep her
head to it" cried Rip. IF We don't
get through, it's goodbye, forever,
SAM"
The swift current caught them, and
the canoe, hurled forward with terrible
force, went flying towards the verge. A
moment more and it shot out in the
midst and went down into the depths.
Each man chung to his paddle as he went
down, held by an invisible power, whirl-
ed to and fro, as in maelstrom, and
then shot up into the light below the
falls. Far below them the canoe float
cd, and as the current swept them down
the two men looked back in time to see
the Indians canoe come over the fall
sideways without an occupant. 1t was
hurled far out and fell lightly on the
water, only to be arrested by the strong
hand of Buckskin Sam.
The Indians, appalled, by their dan
ger. had upset the canoe in their frantic