The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-06-04


she did not try to combat. was ursin,
her nearer. She wanted to hear the
roar more distinctly, IL was so myste- |
rious and indefinite coming from such
distance.
Gradually the noise increased re.
ceding and advancing as the faint air
currents moved away or toward
them until it sounded more like the
distant thunder of surf than wind.
The man still slept, his ears too ia
miliar with the sound OF quick waters
Tor IT to penetrate his dreams
me girl lifted her paddle from the
water and laid it across the gunwales
In front of her. The canoe had begun
TO ieel the pull of the current and
drlfted steadily toward the outlet.
premonition of danger made her
dip her blade and back water a few
strokes. The canoe came to a stand
still almost Immediately. She noticed
this and realized she could safely 60
nearer. That thin, dark line fascinated
her, as fear of great height draws
some people to the very edge of an
abyss, and then those terrible voices
beyond were calling necessarily, but in
words she could not quite understand.
The line of bent water crept nearer,
and then suddenly seemed to rush
upon them.
The blade slashed the surface des.
perately, but stronger hands than hers
mad the canoe in their grip. The
light craft appeared to come to life
and leap forward with eagerness.
Her sharp scream woke the man to
instant realization of their danger,
but too late to escape it, AS they
shot like an arrow down that smooth
slope of water he yelled for her to
turn, and scrambled dexterously over
the forward thwart into the bow,
} snatching up the spare paddle at the
same time.
J He remembered that the only course
that had looked at all likely ran close
| to the left wall, and he threw the
, canoe over to that side. Every nerve
and muscle in his body was alert for
instant action. His ears had become
deaf to the tumult. Back in his brain
was only one idea, and that was to
win. The light craft bobbed about
dizzily and again and again dipped
her gunwales under. The cross-cur-
: rents twisted and hammered her and
, only his great strength and skill saved
them from swift destruction. Each
I moment he marveled that they still
' survived, and in the wild confusion of
= rocks and waves and binding spray
, and pallid moonlight 1t seemed more
q instinct then aught else that guided
e them Alright
e The girl kneeled low and swung her
/ paddle from side to side as the canoe
g Slowed this way or that, and she was
n dimly conscious of wild joy and ex-
hilaration through it all.
Their flight had continued for per.
\ haps 30 seconds-though 1t seemed as
/ many hours to the man-and they had
7 won almost to the foot of the curve
!, when powerful eddy wrenched the
Il paddle from the girls grasp and
N threw the canoe full into the trough OF
X the off-shore waves. The next instant
n they were in the water. AS they went
n over the man had thrown himself for
| ward and had caught the girl by the
q shoulder with one hand. Then dark
z ness closed over their heads.
8 He felt the icy clutching of the cur
q rents, the suffocation, and the hope
Il less battling for life! His brain was
N on fire and his lungs bursting, but his
N grasp on her shoulder did not weaken
Then another eddy whirled them tt
il the surface and the moonlight flooded
II his eyes. He saw the trees Keeling by
j and the white waves high above him
but in that brief instant caught {
go glimpse of a low point rushing Il
meet him. Then they were dragger
beneath again. He struggled might
I'D ily with a CLEAN of hope in his heart
ey and suddenly his feet scraped on tn
lis bottom. One more effort and tn
* sands rose solid beneath him and h
ed staggered ashore, dragging the girl.
he His senses were growing numb an
ar the light was fading. He fell forwar
on his hands and knees. Then re
membrance of the girl flashed throug
ut his consciousness like some stron
re, stimulus, and strength surged pac
Id, through his veins. He tore open ne
blouse and felt her nedrI hut'oii"
nd weakly beneath his fingers. Tears
an relief began trailing down his we
fir cheeks, and yet it took 10 minutes
til vigorous rubbing and working OF ne
ce arms and even implorings and hsse
tie before a long sigh came from ne
nd parted lips and her eyes opened daze'
he ". To his glad amazement he foun
he his match safe had withstood the soa
ing perfectly, and in few minutes
ed had started huge bonfire OF arr
ter wood. He took off her outer carmen
ng and wrung them out and spread thel
10. close to the heat, and in an hour 81
he was little the worse for the adventut.
When the light grew strong ehou ,s
~ TO show them the way, they shlr'e
90. back through the woods, ana alter
he couple of hours of hard scla sn .ha