The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-12-19

quarter of a mile above which ran out
almost to the cut bank. Come. I help
you get feex."
Runnion shrank from his proffered
assistance half fearfully, but, reassur-
ed, allowed the Frenchman to help him
toward the shore.
1--WE tell it de first boat bout you
an dey pick you up You wait here,
! Necia."
The girl watched her rescuer guide
Runnion up to the level Of the woods,
then disappear with him in the frs.
and was relieved to see the two
emerge upon the river bank again far
Their on, for she had feared for an in
slant that Poleon might forget. There
seemed to be no danger, however, for
he was crashing through the brush in
advance of the other, who followed
laboriously. Once Runnion gained the
high point he would be able to COM
mand a view Of both reaches of the
river and could make signals to at
tract the first steamboat that CHANGED
to come along. Without doubt a craft
Of some sort would pass from one d.
rection or the other by tomorrow at
latest, or, II not, she and Poleon could
send back succor to him from the first
habitation they encountered. The two
men disappeared again, and her fears
had begun to prey on her a second
time when she beheld the big Cana
dian returning. He was hurrying a
bit, apparently to be rid of the mos
quitoes that swarmed about him, and
she marked that, in addition to whip
ping himself with a handful of black
berry bushes, he wore Runnion's coat
to protect his shoulders.
"Woof! Dose skeeter bug is hon.
gry," he cried.
dis nice b%atteau," Poleon remarked
critically; 81 maxi it go fas'," and be-
gan to row swiftly, seeking the breeze
of the open river in which to shake
off the horde of singing pests that
had risen with the sun. II come way
queeck wit'out t'inkin' bout gun or
skeeter net or not'in'. Runnion she's
len me dis coat, so mebbe l don look
so worse lax l do JUS now, eh?"
"How did you leave him? Is he
badly injuredY"
"No; l bus 1t up on de face an de
rib, but she's feelin' good now. Yes,
I'm leave i'm nice place for stop an
wait on de steamboat-plaintee spruce
bough for set on"
She began to shudder again, and,
sensitive to her every motion, he asked
solicitously If she were sick, but she
shook her head.
"I-I-was thinking what-supposing
you hadn't come! Oh, Poleon, you
don't know what you saved me FROM"
She leaned forward and laid a tiny,
grateful hand on the huge brown paw
that rested on his oar. Il wonder II l
can ever forget!'
She noted that they were running
with the current and inquired:
"Where are we going"
"Waal, l can't pull dis boat 'gainst
dat current, so l guess we pass on till
l fin my shirt, den bimeby we pick it
up some steamboat an go home"
Five miles below his quick eye de-
tected his half submerged ozark"
iodged beneath some overhanging frs
which from the waters action had
fallen forward into the stream, and by
rare good fortune it was still upright,
although awash. He towed it to the
next sand bar, where he wrung out
and do11ned MS snirt, IncaI trppeu the
water from the smaller craft and,
making 1t fast astern Of the Peterbor-
ough, set out once more. Toward
noon they came in sight of a little
stern wheeled craft that pulled and
battered manfully against the sweep
ing current, hiding behind the points
and bars and following the slackest
water.
Its the mission boat!' cried Necia.
ats the mission boat! Father Barnum
will be aboard"
She waved her arms madly and min
gled her voice with Poleon's until a
black robed figure appeared beside the
pilothouse.
"Father Barnumv' she screamed, and,
recognizing her, he signaled back.
Soon they were alongside, and a pair
of Siwash deck hands lifted Necia
aboard, Doret following after, the
painter of the Peterborough In his
teeth. lie dragged both canoes out Of
the boiling tide and laid them bottom
up on the forward deck, then climbed
the narrow little stairs to find Necia
In the arms of a benignant, white
haired priest, The best beloved man on
the Yukon, who broke away from the
girl to greet the Frenchman, his kind
face alight with establishment.
"What is all this l hear? Slowly,
Doret, slowly! Ny little girl is talk
ing too %furiously for these poor old
wits to follow. l can't understand. l
am amazed. What is this taleT"
Together they told him, while his
blue eyes now opened wide with Won
der, now grew soft with pity, then
blazed with Indignation. When they
had finished he laid bis hand upon
poret's shoulder.
my son, I thank God for your good
body and your clean heart. You saved
our Necia. and you will be rewarded.