Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-03-27
neIchcd and trcmb ed witt a strange

neighcd and trcmb ed wltn a strange
terror she could not compTcheld
At last his fore feet sank deep In the
sand; he made desperate effort to lift
his noOfs, and then, stumbling, came to
a second stop, painting with fright and
inability to proceed.
"ThiS is strange" murmured lnez,
'concernedly. "The horse must be eA'
hausted with the long drive"
Her face became white as marble tho
next moment, however. She had madO
a sudden discovery, so startling and ap'
palling that low cry of dread cs-aped
her lips.
"The horse is sinking" Mercifnl
heavens! understand now!" she gasped
ave are in the QuickSands!"
For a single moment the thought
paralyzed every energy. She saw the
horse founder and try to free himself
vanly, she felt the shifting sands incase
her own feet. and then she made o des-
perate effort at escape.
A blank despair settled down over her
mind as she did so, Behind and on all
sides OF her the dawning day showed
plainly the full extent of htr awful peril.
A siche1ing dread possessed her, and
her eyes closed in prayer as they fell
upon the changing mass Of send, to step
upon which meant to enSnare herself
more deeply in its grasp.
"Help!"
One single cry for aid, one last praT er
to heaven, and Inez Tracey resigned
herself to a fate that seemed inevitable
Meanwhile, in tie main canyons Des-
pard and his men werc searching every
NOOK and corner IL the bragch gnlics
for the missing girl and hcr companion.
The latter, Darrel Grey, knew but one
impulse as he reca led the terrible words
of Vance.
Inez Tracey had rode on to peril, por-
haps to death jtse,f, and he know that
every moment of delay might be fatal to
the devoted life of the girl he was fast
learning TO love.
He cOud not scculo the horse and
leave the spot unpcrceiyed, however, for
Despard and his mon wero in the vi
cinity.
Tncro was only enc way to gain the
side gully, down which lne3 Tracey had
disappeared.
This was to crawl along tho ground,
and, rea hing the dense underg owth
which abounded in the place, reach the
@. GO of the roadway. ascend the deep
side of tho canyon which was not high
at this point, AID drop down on the other
side.
This Darrell started to do at once, and
succ eded so far that five minutes later,
with some few bruises, he dropped into
QuicAsand Gully.
His gait was Iapid one as he sped
down the gully, taking the same course
followed by lnez few moments pre-.
yiOuSly.
A cry of mingled hope and suspense
broke from his lips as he turned point
in the gully which enab ed view of the
stream.
Across the treacherous sandy bottom
of the gully he saw the missing girl.
The hor.e had sunk deep into the
shifting sands, and. held the animaleand
its rider secure prisoners.
"Inez! Miss Tracey" cried Darrcl, in
agi ate tones
A glad cry broke from the ips of tho
| imperiled girl.
Darrel comprehended the situation al
| a glance. He knew that to rush towards
her over the sands would only be to in
volve him self in similar peril.
He therefore began to climb the ledge
of rocks by the side of the p ace, Gag gerly
scanning the ground as he did so.
Then, with his hunting knife, he cut
long length of heavy trailing vine.
"Do not despair" he cried down TO
Inez, as he eaEcd over the edge of the
rocks. Il am about to lower Vine tC
YOU, seize it, and ho.d firmly to it"
The girl grasped the extended mean9
of escape minute latel. With prodig'
ious strength nervcd by love and cour
age, Darrell Grey pulled at the other
ed.
He thrilled with wi delight as he OBJ
served that the effort freed Inez from
the encroaching sand. She clutchcd al
the shrubs on the rocky wall as she be-
gan to ascend.
"Thank heaven, you are safe!"
1t was wild, grateful aspiration
that escaped barrels lips, as he ii. ted
Inez over the lelge and felt her soft
chnging touch, and saw the light of love
and devotion in her grateful eyes. The
horse, relieved Of the weight of its rider
made one last effort to free himself
houndered and turned Then, with 6
wild neigh of delight at escape, the stecC
dashed down the canyon road in the
direction whence it had como.
TO De CONTINUED