New-York tribune., 1911-01-22


w breasts they lurched down the bank
"Gct into the water!' Jim gasped. Lying
fiat, the men and the child and the dog drank
and painted and drank.
The Indian was soon on his feet; but
Darch did not move. The flare of normal
strength had been evaneScent; the alcohol
had completely resumed its relaxed hold
over his body. and he lay hclpleSSy inert,
but with conscious, imploring eyes.
Put to the test, Lame Jim could not aban-
don this man. The fire was racing the river
course, sweeping the banks clean; the river
itself here beyond the pool under the falls
was little more than shallow stream, with
a smooth, hard bed. But some few hundred
yards farther on it widened and deepened,
and in the middle was an Slct of sands and
drittcd pebbles free of all vegetation to tempt
the flames, where they could wait in COM
parative safety till the rescuers came He
never for an instant doubted their coming
The LoucheuX looked about him. The
blackencd sod briStled with smoking Stumps
and Charrcd branches. One of these he
dragged kissing into the water, flung Darch's
big body across it, securely laShing him with
strips torn from the blanket. Other strips
he knottcd TO the dogs collar and round his
own waist; then, with the little maid in his
arms and the Luck helping, he started the
crude raft down stream.
They splaShed rapidly along between tan
gled masses Of underground and skyward
looming trees The banks grew higher;
water trlcklcd down their grayelly slopes
where tiny brooks joined the main stream.
The air was heavy with smoke and ash. and
the deepening water clung heavily to the
Indians legs, impeding his progress. The
Luck too slaCkened IN way that troubled
Jim.
But as they rounded the bend that hid the
islet the dogs courage lashed out again,-his
1.-THE body was dynamo, and he swan be-
side the Indian, who was struggling in water
up to his armpItS, to hold the child above its
level.
Jim hcavcd a sigh Of relief as they dragged
up on the sandy refuge Then his heart
sank. Beneath their weight the gravel
Crunchcd and sloughcd off at the edges;
where Darchs feet had been clear of the
current the moment before now it was lap
ping at his heels.
Not pauslng for a breathing space even,
he explored the tiny sand patch then slid
back into the water, dragging the Luck
after him. 1t was much smaller than he had
estimated, mere shallow crust, capable per-
hap5 Of bearing Darch, but under their COM
blncd weight it would crumble in less than
an hour. And Lame Jim dared not count
upon the time that must elapse before help
came.
Its our only chance; yours as well as
Mcgs, he said aloud as he slit the blanket
lashings and jcrkcd Darch to the very center
OF the lslct II only it would last him till the
Indian could direct those scarlet tunckcd
FIRE lighters out on the plateau
Wed all be in the water in no time, and
| couldn't tow YOU much farther in this heat
It's your only chance. and the little one'S,'
he repeated in vague excuse. As he cast the
charred log adriit.
lie lashcd the dog more securely to his
own waist and glanced again at Darch. His
eyes were closed, and Jim wondered if OBJ
IiTon had mcrcitully descended to him.
THE fire was above and around them to
night and left now as he headed out
toward the plateau. He chose his way as