The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-11-21
CHAPTER v.
aIIo1p'o

The cry rang out wild and alarmed,
but it met no responsive echo from the
gloomy depths of Quicksand Gully.
1t emanated from the lips of Inez Ira
cey, and announced precisely the peril
to which Danton had alluded-the quick
sands.
When Inez had left Darrell Grey she
started down the side canyon, satisfied
that to delay or disobey her brave pro-
tector would be only to enhance her own
peril and to obstruct his movements
against their enemies.
"When he sees am at safe distance
he will follow me, and a conflict with
. DeSpard and his men may be avoided, !"
murmured Inez hopefully.
The horse she rode made rapid prog
ress, but when she came to point
where the road bed OF the gully mar
rowed and descended, the animal seemed
ioath to proceed
1t was with difficulty that she induced
the steed to proceed. and. when he did
50, she noticed that his footing was in
secure and that there seemed no outlet
beyond the narrow cut She had en-
tered.
\ little stream seemed TO lose its way
by Sinuous course around sharp
curve in her path, and, hopeful that
beyond that the canyon might widen
again, IneZ urged the horse over a sandy
Stretc OF soil.
Above her the lodges of rocks frowned
down omnousy, and she felt vague
sense of uneasinesS, as once or twice
the horse came to dead stop and
neighed and tremb'ed with a strange
terror she could not comprehend.
At last his fore feet sank deep in the
sand: he made a desperate effort to lift
his heofs, and then, stumbling, came to
a second stop, painting with fright and
inability TO proceed.
This is strange" murmured Inez.
concerHedly. "The horse must be en-
hausted with the long drive.
Her face became white as marble the
next moment. however She had made
a sudden discovery, so startling and APP
pal3ing that a low cry of dread eS aped
her lips
"The horse is sinking" Merciful
heavens, | understand now" she gasped.
I'VE are in the quckSands."
For a single moment the thought
paralyzed every energy. She saw the
horse founder and try to free himself
vainly, she felt the shifting sands incaSe
her own feet. and then she made des-
pefdte eIOrt at escape
A blank despair settled down over her
mind as she did so. Behind and on all
sides o. her the dawnng DAY showed
plainly the full extent Of her awful peril.
A sickeling dread possessed her, and
her ewes closed in prayer as they fell
upon the changing mass of sand. to step
upon which meant to ensnare herself
more deeply in its grasp.
Help"
One single cry for aid. one last prayer
10 heaven, and Incz Tracey resigned
herself to fat that seemed lneylta bic.
Meanwhile, in the main canyon, DeS-
pard and his men We're searching every
nook and corner in the branch gulles
for the missing girl and her companion.
The latter. Darrell Grey. knew but one
impulse as be rcca led the terrible words
Of Vance.
Inez Tracey had rode on 20 peril. per-
haps to death Itself. and lac knew that
every moment of delay might be fatal to
the devoted life Of the girl he was fast
learning TO love.
He could not secure the horse and
leave the spot unperce!sed, however, for
DeSpard and his men were in the vi
cinity
There was only one way 10 gain the
SIDE gully. down which Inez Tracey had
disappeared.
This was TO crawl along the ground,
and, rea hing the dense underground
which abounded in the place, reach the
edge OF the roadway. ascend the deep
side OF the canyon which was not high
at this point, and drop down on the other
side.
This Darrell started 10 do at once, and
succeeded so far that five minutes later.
with some few bruises, he dropped into
0uicksand Gully.
His gait was rapid one as he sped
down the gully, taking the same course
followed by Inez q few moments pre-
viously.
A cry OF mingled hope and suspense
, broke from his lips as he turned . point