The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-13
BLACK ROCK
A Tale Of the Selkirks
by Ralph C0nnor

his tip'toes. with u long knife In his
hand waiting for chance to spring
Il have been waiting for this for some
time. Mr. Graeme.' he said, smiling
Yes replied Graeme, ever since
spoiled your throat game In 'fris.
co. How Is the little onet" he added
sarcasticalIy.
idaho'S face lost Its smile and became
distorted with fury as he replied. spit.
ting out his words. "She--is--whcre YOU
win be before am done with YOU"
"Ah you murdered her too. Youll
hang some beautiful day, ldabo.' said
lGfaeme, as Idaho sprang upon him.
Gracmc lodged his blow and caught
his forearm with bis left hand and held
up high the murderous knife. Back
and forward they swayei over the floor.
slippery with whisky, the knife held hIsh
In the air. wondered why Graeme
did not strike and then saw his right
hand hung limp from the wrist. The
men were crowdins upon the barricade.
| wa. In despair. Cranes strength
was going fast With yell Of exnl,
tant fury Idaho threw himself with all
his weight upon Graemc. who could only
cling 10 him. They swayed together
toward me, bu, as they fell / brought
Gown my bar upon the upraised hand
and scnt the knife flying across the
room and his cry OF pain mingled with a
shout from below, and there. dashins the
crowd to right and left came old Sel.
son followed by Abe, Sandy. Baptiste
Shaw and others. A. they reached the
barticadc II crashed down and CARRYING
me with It, pinned me fast.
Looking ont between the barrels, |
saw what froze my heart with horror.
In the fall Graeme has wound his arms
about his enemy and held him In grin
so deadly that he coull not strike; but
6ra"me's strength was failing, and when
| looked | 'nw that Idaho was slowly
dragging both across the slippery floor to
where the knife lay. Nearer an nealcr
his ontstritchded fingers came to the
knife In vain ! yelled and struggled
My voice was lost In the awful din and
the barricade held mo fast Above me
standing OH barTe,head was Baptiste
yelling like demon. In vain | called
to him. Ny fingers could just reach
his foot, aud he hecdded not at all to my
touch. Slowly Idaho was dragging his
almost unconscious victim toward the
knife, His fingers were touching the
blade point, when. under sudden In.
spiration. pulled ont my penknife
opened Il with my teeth. and drove the
Glade nto lIaptiste's foot. With a
blood 'curding yell he sprang down and
began dancing round in his rage, pcering
among the barrels.
"Look lookl' | was calling in agony
and pointing, "For Heavens sake look,
lIaptistc!'
The fingers had closed upon the knife,
the knife was already high in the air,
when, with shrek, Baptiste cleared the
room with u bound, and before the knife
could fall the little Frenchmans boot
had caught the unified wrist and sent
the knife flying to the wall
Then there was a great rushing sound
as Of wind through the forest, aud the
lights went out When | awoke I
found myself lying with my head on
Gracmc's knees and Baptist sprinkling
snow in my face, As | looked up Graeme
leaned over me, and, smiling down into
my eyes hc said:
Good boyl. II was a great fight and
we put il up well;' and then he whis.
prred 81 owe you my life, my boy
His words thrilled by heart through
and through, AMI | loved him as only
men can love men; but only answered;