The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-05-23

eyes.
We shall have to try 1t, Miss Nc
onaio; you must permit me to carry
you"
Yes"
And whatever happens do not
scream-1ust cling tight to me-"
Yes" a little catching in her throat.
"Tei me first. please. just what 1t is
you fear"
Quicksand principally: 1t is In all
these western rivers, and the two OF
US together on n pair Of feet will
make 1t harder to pull out Of the suck.
II l tell you to get down. do so
quickly"
Yes"
Then there may be holes u there
In the bottom. I don't mind those so
much. although these cavalry boots
are no help In swimming"
Il can SWIM"
Hardly in your clothes; but l am
glad to know It, nevertheless. You
could keep afoat at least. and The
holes are new very large. Are you
ready now?"
She gave him her hands and stood
up. The Sergeant drew in a long
breath and transferred the haversack
to her shoulder.
Well try and keep that from get
ting soaked. II we can," he explained.
There Is no hotel over in those sand
hills. Now hold on tight"
He swung her easily to his broad
shoulder, clasping her slender lgure
closely with one arm.
That's 1t! Now get a firm grip. I'll
carry you all right"
To the girl, that passage was never
more than a dim memory. Still par
TALLY dazed from the severe blow on
her head, she closed her eyes as Ham
lin stepped cautiously down into the
stream and chung to him desperately.
expecting each moment t be flung
forward into the water. But the Ser
geant's mind was upon his work. and
every detail OF the struggle left its
impress on his memory. He saw the
dark sweep OF the water, barely Wis
ible in the CLEAN OF those few stars
unobscured by cloud, and felt the slug.
gish flow against his legs as he moved.
The bottom was soft, yet his feet did
not sink deeply. although, 1t was rath.
er difficult wading. However. the clay
gave him more confidence than sand
underfoot, and there was less depth Of
water even than he had anticipated.
He was wet only to the thighs when
he toiled up on to the low spit Of sand.
and put the girl down a moment to
catch a fresh breath and examine the
broader stretch Of water ahead. They
could see both shores now. that which
they had just left, a black. Jumping.
dim outline. Except for the tapping
Ut the water at their feet, all was
deathly still, Even the Indian fire had
died out, and 1t was hard to conceive
that savages we're hidden behind that
black veil. and that they two were
actually fleeing for theE lives. To the
girl it was like some dreadful delirium
of sleep. but the man felt the full
struggle. There was q star we'll down
In the south he chose to guide by, but
beyond that he must trust to good for
tune. Without a word he lifted her
again to his shoulder. and pushed on.
The water ran deeper, shelving of
rapidly, until It rose we'll above his
waist, and with sufficient current SO
that he was compelled to lean against
it to maintain balance, scarcely ven.
turing forward a foot at q time. Once
he stumbled owe some obstruction
barely averting a fall; he felt the
swift clutch Of her fingers at his
throat. the quick adjustment Of her
body, but her lips gave no utterance
Of alarm. His cropping feet touched
the edge of a hole, and he turned, fac
ing the current, tracing his way care
fully until he found a passage on solid
bottom. A bit Of driftwood swirled
down out OF the night; a watersoaket
limb, striking against him before II
was even seen, bruised n ARM. anc
then lodged past like a wild thing
leaving a glitter of foam behind. The
sand-dunes grew darker. more dis
tinct, the water began to grow shall
low, the bottom changing from mud tt
sand. He slipped and staggered IL
the uncertain footing. his breath com
$tng in quicker gasps, yet with no cess
alton OF effort. Once he felt the dread
ed suck about his ankles, and brok'
into a reckless run. splashing straigh
forward, falling at the waters edge
vet not before the girl was ~restin,
safely on the soft sand.
Strong as Hamlin was, his muscle
trained by strenuous outdoor life, b
lay there for a moment utterly helI
. less, more exhausted from the nervou
strain indeed. than the physical excl
=, ton. He had realized fully the des
a perate nature Of that passage, expect
Ing every step to be engulfed. and tn
q reaction, the knowledge that they ha
. actually attained the shore safely. LEI
= him weak as a child. hardly able t
comprehend the fact. The girl wa
upon her feet first, alarmed and sc
l~icitous, bending down to touch hir
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