Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-06

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tination. 1t was possible for the eye
to follow the track all the way to it
through rough stones and brushwood;
and though Clon climbed feebly and
with many groans, two minutes saw
us step on to It 1t did not turn out
to be the perilous place It looked at
q distance The ledge, grassy and ter
race-like, sloped slightly downward and
o,ltwards. and in parts was slippery;
but 1t was as wide as a highway and
the fall to the water did not exceed
20 feet. Even in such dim light as
now displayed it to US and by In
creasing the depth and unseen dangers
of the gorge, gave kind Of impressive
ness to our movements. a nervous
woman need not have feared to breast
1t. wondered how often mademoiselle
had passed along it with her milk
pitcher.
II think we have him now!" Captain
Larolle muttered, twisting his mus
taches and looking round to make his
last dispositions. Paul and Lebrun,
see that your man makes no noise.
Sergeant come forward with your car
bine, but do not fire without orders.
Now, silence, all, and close up, Lieu
tenant. Forward"
We advanced about a hundred PAGES,
keeping the cliff on our left, then
turned a shoulder and saw a few
PAGES in front of us black blotch
standing out from the grey dusklness
of the cliffside. The prisoner stopped
and raising his bound hand pointed to
1t.
"There?" the captain whispered,
pressing forward. els that the placer"
Clon nodded The captains voice
shook with excitement. "You two re-
main here with hin4" he muttered, in
a low tone. Sergeant, come forward
with me. Now are you ready? For
ward!"
He and the sergeant passed quickly
one on either side of Clon and his
guards. The path was narrow here
and the captain passed outside. The
eyes Of all but one were on the black
blotch, the hollow in the cliff-side and
no one saw exactly what happened.
But somehow, as the captain passed
abreast of him, the prisoner thrust
back his guards and springing side
WAYS. flung his unbound arm round
Larolle's body, and in an instant swept
him, shouting, to the verge OF the
precipice.
1t was done in a moment. By the
time the lieutenant's startled wits and
ewes were back, the two were already
tottering on the edge, looking In the
gloom like one dark form. The ser
geant, who was the first to find his
head, levelled his carbine; but as the
wrestlers twirled and twisted; the cap.
tain shrieling out oaths and threats,
the mute silent as death, 1t was I'M
possible to see which was which; and
the sergeant lowered his gun again,
while the men held back. nervously.
| The ledge sloped steeply there; the
edge was vague; already the two seem
ed to be wrestling in mid air-and the
mute was man beyond hope or fear
That moment of hesitation was
] fatal. Clon's long arms were round the
| others arms, crushing them into his
ribs; Clon's skull-like face grinned
hate into the. others eyes; his long
| limbs c,,rled round him like the folds
of a snake. Suddenly Larolle's
| strength gave way On you all
| Why don't you--Merch! mercy!" came
in last scream from his lips; and
then, as the lieutenant, taken aback
before, sprang forward to his aid, the
two topbled over the edge and in sec
ond hurtled out Of sight.
sMon Dieu!" the lieutenant cried
in horror. The answer was dull
splash in the depths below.
He flung up his arms. Water!
he said. Quick, men, get down! We
may save him yet! They have falle1
into water!"
But there was no path and nigh
was come and the mems nerves were
shaken. The lanthorns had to be Iii
and the way to be retraced; and by thu
time we reached the dark pool which
lay below, the last bubbles were gone
| SASA>
beaten themselves out against tn
banks. True, the pool still rocked
sullenly and the yellow light showed
a mans hat floating and near 1t
glove three parts submerged. Blu
that was all The mute's dying girl
had known no loosening, nor his hat
any fear Later heard that whel
they dragged the two out next day
!; his fingers were in the others eye
sockets, his teeth in his throat
; ever man found death sweet, 1t wa
, he.
J AS we turned slowly from the blacl
water, some shuddering, some crossin
themselves, the lieutenant locke
vengefully at me. Curse you!" b
said, in sudden fury. II believe 20
are glad!"
: "He deserved his fate" answere
} coldly. why should pretend to b
sorry? 1t was now or in three months
Il