Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-05-06
CHAPTER xvI-(Continued)
R EEK


 nor length of blade could stop. In his haste he had left Flambeau without weapon of any kind, for, in his mind
 such things are superhuous, and he
 had never fought with any but those
 God gave him nor found any living
 thing that his hands could not mas.
 ter. Therefore he had rushed head.
 long against this armed and waiting man, reaching for him ever closer and closer till the burning powder stung
 his eyes. They grappled and fought, alone and unseen, and yet 1t was no fight, for Runnion, though a vigorous. heavy muscled man, was beaten down smothered and crushed beneath the onslaught of this great naked fellow, who all the time sobbed and whined and mewed in panting fury.
 They swung. half across the spit to the farther side. where they fell in fantastic convulsion,' slipping ard sliding and rolling among the rocks that smote and gouged and bruised them. Tue gambler fought for his life against the naked flesh of the otb- CT. against the distorted face that snapped and bit like the muzzle of a wolf, while all the time he heard that fearful, inarticulate note of blood hunger at his ear. The Canadian's c!inched hands crushed whatever they fell upon as if mailed with metal. The fingers were like tearing tongs that could not be loosed. It was fright fal combat, hideous from its inequali- ty. like the battle of q man against a maddened beast whose teeth tore and whose claws ripped, whose every move was irresistible. And so 1t was over shortly.
 Poleon rose and ran to the fallen girl, leaving behind him hudCiled and twisted likeness of man. He picked her up tenderly, moaning and cfoon- ing. But as her limp head Iolled back, throwing her pale. blind features up to the heavens, he began to cry, this time like woman. Tears fell from his eyes-burning tears, the agony of which scared his soul. He laid her beside the waters edge, and, holding her head and shoulders in the crook of his left arm, he wet his right hand and bathed her face. crouching over her, half nude, dripping with the sweat of his great labors, 6. tender, figure of bronzed muscle and sinew, with all his fury and hate replaced by apprehension and pity. The short moments that he worked | with her were ages to him, but she re. | rived beneath his ministrations, and | her first frightened look of conscious ness was changed to melting smile.
 "W-what happened, Poleon?" she 'aid. 'T was afraid"
 He stood up to his full height, shak- ng and weak as the water that drip ped from him, the very bones in him dissolved. For the first time he ut. cred words, 'T'ank God, ba gosh!" md ran his hand up over his wet face.
 Where Is he?" She started to her inees affrightedly; then, seeing the visited, sprawling figure beyond, be- an to shudder. 'He-he's deadY
 q don't know," said Poleon careless y. You feel 1t purity good now, eh, v'at?.
 "Yes-1-he struck mew The remem- rance of what hld occurred surged yer her. and she buried her face in Ter hands. "Oh, Pcleon, Poleon! He vas dreadful man."
 "He don trouble you TO more."
 "He tried-he-- Ugh! I'm glad ou did it. She broke down, trem- ling at her escape, until her selfish ess smote her, ard she was up and eside him on the instant Are you urt? Oh, never thought of that! 'ou must be wounded"
 The Frenchman felt himself over md ,oked down at his limbs for the first me. NO; l guess not" he said, at 'hlch Necia noti ed his meager attire, nd simultaneously he became con- ,ious of it. He fell away a pace. cast lg his eyes over the river for his lnoe, which was now a speck in the !stance.
 "Pa gosh! I'm h--l of ting for ollin' at" he said. I'm paddle hard; ats wy. Sacre, how I sweatw He ltched nersously at the band of his Teralls, while Ne ia answered.: That's all right. Pol2on." Then, ithcut warning. her face froze with ipgled repulsion ard wonder. Look, ok!' she whispered. pointing past m.
 Runnion was moving slowly, crawl g painfully into a si tirg posture, up- 'ting a terribly mutilated, face, dazed Id half conscious, groping fer posses on of his wits. He saw them and fmaced frightfully. covering and inging.
 Poleon felt the girls hand upon his m and heard her crying in a hard, arp voice:
 'He needs killing! Put him awayr He stared down at his gentle Necia Id saw the loathlng In her face and Q look of strange ferocity as she ct his eyes boldly.
 You don't know what he-what he d" she said through her shut teeth. fe"- But the man Uaifpd to hpap