The Dolores star., 1910-05-20

sharp enough to cut the rope, In that
event he would fall backward into the
abyss. Al the first pull, he intended
to cut with his Ratchet and trust en-.
tirely to the ring.bolt.
Meanwhile his heart stopped it, IN.
rious pounding. his breath came more
slowly, and the cool. daring, muscular
fellow was his old self once more.
ready to fight to the last. After DELHI
Grating for some time-for life hung
In the balance--he pressed himself
close to the ledge, his left hand cling
ing to the bolt, and. reaching upward
with his right. he struck with his
Ratchet until the rope parted. II was
frightful risk, for the cumbersome
suit pushed him out from the face
of the wall until he was overbaI.
anced the sudden parting Of the rope
placed great additional strain on the
hand which held the ring, and he WAS
forced to drop his Ratchet and cling
tightly with both hands to the bolt.
He had not contemplated such dim.
Guilty
He dared not release one hand with
which to fasten the cut rope to the
ring bolt. because he leaned-overbal.
anced-abOye the abyss He dared not
wait, as each minute cost him 90
much strength; SO he must. perforce.
release one hand to accomplish any
thing. Tugging desperately. he man.
aged to fiatten the suit on one side
and to hug little closer the face
Of the dam: balancing there, he tight
ened his grip on the bolt. and with .
quick downward movement caught the
broken rope where 1t dangled from
under the arms Of his suit. He
! grasped the ring with both hands Just
as he swayed over the cliffs, and Il
seemed to him for moment that his
arms would be torn from their sock.
cts by the strain.
Desperately his fingers worked un.
I'll he knotted the rope In the ring.
At last he was secure from the aw-
full fear of falling, the rope pulling
straight away from his chest and hold.
ing MIN securey. slowly. cautiously.
he commenced cutting the suit at the
knees with the knife from his belt,
and managed to kick OF the heavy
lead shoes, one at a time, standing
now on his stockinged feet Still more
slowly. for his strength was not what
1t had been. he ripped up the suit ON
the side under the arm.pits and out
to the wrist, where II was held By
heavy rubber bands. The great he'll
4 met swung and rolled at the end AZ
the rope. and finally rested Just where
his feet should stand.
Free at last: but free to do what
The blows from the pile driver had
1olted the mattress down until the
hole was closed: but the water still
streamed through the openings In the
brush. and. unless the interstices
should be closed with rock and ce.
ment. 1t was plain to all who watched
that the river would not reach the
crest of the dam In time. A supply
OF this material was dumped slowly
along the slanting face of the mat.
tress, and at last the water began TO
gain. Right over the section Of the
u"in where Dakus $1,000 on the ledge
below one course OF the masonry was
diminished for a space Of SO feet; but,
when the stream began pouring over
this lower part. II was estimated that
there would be ample In race.ways to
complete the conditions OF the con.
tract so Dakus. as he slowly made
his way along the ledge, was now
under the fall OF this water as II
'o".' over .he edge above. He
49, 'n now ne maze tho
- .'" a. ,., ne continued 10 move
' ,"- ""''o~ ease. aithough no
81. w s."' 10 "n'cn ne might AZ.
40 -, =. .ou,u s."I.e'y nope 10 crawl
~ az. gu" anu 'neh chmo the race
,,,.a,. va" " ,ne crest OF the dam'
,,a"" s'p'Isy' no crept along tho
harder each m,nn,. ~ ~" , pouaa "ns
.hon,,.r. e., 49,. =. VI" "."a anu