Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-12
By REX BEACH,

for his life against the naked flesh Of the
| other, 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-hun-
| ger at his ear The Canadian $
clenched hands crushed whatever they
fell upon as II mailed with metal; the fin
| gers were like tearing tongs that could
not be loosed. 1t was a frightful COM
bat hideous from its inequality, like the
+, battle of a man against a mad
dened beast whose teeth tore and
whose claws ripped, whose every move
was irresistible. And so it was over
shortly.
Poleon rose and ran to the fallen girl,
leaving behind him a huddled and twisted
llikenes Of a man. He picked her up ten
Derby moaning and grooming but as her
limp head lolled back, throwing her pale,
blind features up 10 the heavens he be-
gan to cry this time like a woman. Tears
fell from his eyes, burning tears, the
agony of which scared his soul. He laid
her carefully 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. a tender, palpitating
figure of bronZed muscle and sinew. with
all his fury and hate replaced by ap-
prehension and pity. The short moments
that he worked with her were ages to
him, but she revived beneath his minis
/ trations and her first frightened look
of consciousness was changed to a melt
ing smile.
| "W-what happened, Poleon?" she said
II was afraidr'
He stood up to his full height, shak-
ing. and weak as the water that dripped
from him. the very bones in him dis
solved. For the first time he uttered
words.
Tank God. ba goshr" and ran his
hand up over his wet face.
! Where is hep She started to her knees
affrightenedly; then, seeing the twisting,
sprawling figure beyond, began to shud-
der. "He-he's dead?"
Il don't know" said Poleon, carelessly.
you feel it purity good now, err, w'at?"
I "Yes-I-he struck met The remem-
, brance of what had occurred surged over
! her and she buried her face in her hands.
"Oh, Poleon! Poleon! He was a dreadful
man."
HE don trouble you no more"
He tried-he- Ugh! I'm glad you
did it, She broke down. trembling at
her escape, until her selhshness smote her,
and she was up and beside him on the
3 instant. Are you hurt? Oh, 1 never
thought of that. You must be wound
cdr
The Frenchman felt himself over, and
looked down at his limbs for the first
time. mo! 1 guess not" he said, at which
Necia noticed his meagre attire. He fell
, apace, casting his eyes over the river for
his canoe, which was now a speck in the
distance
"Ba gosh! I'm hell of a ting for lookin'
at he said. I'm paddle hard-dat's wy.
Sacrel how 1 sweat" He hitched ner-
vously at the band of his overalls. while
Necia answered:
That's all right, Poleon." Then, with
out warning. her face froze with min
gled repulsion and wonder. Look!
Look!' she whispered. pointing past him.
Runnion was moving slowly, crawling
painfully into a sitting posture. uplifting
a terribly mutilated face. dazed and half
conscious. cropping for possession of his
wits. He saw them, and grimaced fright
fully, covering and cringing.
Poleon felt the girls hand upon his arm,
and heard her crying I'm a hard, sharp
voice:
HE needs killing, Put him away!"
He stared down at his gentle Necia, and
saw the loathing in her face and the
look of strange ferocity as she met his
eyes boldly.
You don't know what he-what he
did" she said, through her shut teeth.
He" But the man waited to hear no
more.
Runnion saw him coming, and scrambled
frantically to all-fours, then got on his
feet and staggered down the bar. AS Po-
leon overlook him, he cried out piteous-
ly, a shrill scream of terror, and, falling
to his knees, groveled and debased him
self like a foul cripple at fear of the lash.
His agony dispelled the savage faint of
Alluna's aboriginal training in Necia,
and the pure white blood of her asces-
tors cried out:
"Poleon, Poleon! Not that! She hur-
ried after him to where he paused above
the wretch waiting for her. "You
mustn't she said. THAT would be MUIR
der. and-and-its all over now"
| The Frenchman looked at her wonder
ingly, not comprehending this sudden lem
iency.
Let him alone; you've nearly killed
him; that's enough" Whereat Runnion,
broken in body and spirit, began to beg
for his life.
Watts dat you say JUS now?" Doret
asked the girl WAS dat de truth for
sure wat you speak?'
Yes, but you've done your work.
Don't touch him again"
He hesitated. and Runnion, quick to OBJ
serve it. added his entreaty to hers.
I'm beaten, Doret. You broke me to
pieces. 1 need help-I-Pm hurt"
wat you spec 1 do wit 'im?" the
Canadian asked and she answered.
L suppose We'll have to take him where
he can get assistance"
SDat skin amt carry all tree of us"
"Pl stay here" groaned the fright
ened man. "IH wait for a steamer to
pick me up. but for Gods sake don't
touch me again"
Poleon looked him over carefully. and
made up his mind that the man was
more injured in spirit than In body, for
outside of his battered muscles, he show
ed no fatal symptoms. Although the voy-
ageur was slower to anger than a child
a grudge never died in him, and his sim
pie. self-taught creed knew no forgive
ness for such men as Runnion, cherish
ed no mercy for preying men or beasts
He glanced towards the wooden shores
a stones throw above, then back at the
coward he had beaten and whose life was