The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-10-30
"Tell Me, Are You Hurt?"

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 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
of the water at their feet, all was
deathly still. Even the Indian fire had
died out, and it was hard to conceive
that savages were hidden behind that
black veil, and that they two were
actually fleeing for their lives. To the
girl 1t was like some dreadful delirium
of sleep, but the man felt the full
struggle. There was a 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 off
rapidly, until 1t rose well above his
waist, and with sufficient current 80
that he was compelled to lean against
it to maintain balance, scarcely ven.
turing forward foot at time. Once
he stumbled over 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 hole, and he turned, fac
/ ing the current, tracing his way care
fully until he found passage on solid
bottom. A bit of driftwood swirled
down out of the night; water-soaket
limb, striking against him before II
was even seen, bruised one arm, anC
then lodged past like wild thing
leaving a glitter of foam behind. Thu
sand-dunes grew darker, more dis
tinct, the water began to grow shall
low, the bottom changing from mud t
sand. He slipped and staggered II
the uncertain footing, his breath com
ing 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
yet not before the girl was Testin
safely on the soft sand.
Strong as Hamlin was, his muscle
trained by strenuous outdoor life, h
lay there for moment utterly hell
less, more exhausted from the nervou
strain indeed, than the physical exc
ton. He had realized fully the de-
perate nature OF that passage, eXpec
ing every step to be engulfed, and tb
reaction, the knowledge that they ha
actually attained the shore safely, lei
him weak as child, hardly able
comprehend the fact. The girl wa
upon her feet first, alarmed and 81
! licitous, bending down to touch hi
\ with her hand,
Il Sergeant, you are not hurt| 81
81 questioned. Tell me you are NJ
y hurt"
ooh, no." dragging himself up Il
bank, yet painting as he endeavor'
to speak cheerfully. "Only that WI
| a rather hard pull, the last of it, and
a am short of breath. shall be
~ right in a moment"
"a There was sand-dune Just beyoh
~ and he seated himself and lean
against 1t.
n 81 am beginning to breathe easi
"A already" he explained. "sit do'
"A here. Miss Mcdonald. We are sa
u enough now in this darkness
IA "You are all wet, soaking wet"
a "That Is nothing; the sand Is wal
yet from yesterdays sun, and
u clothes will dry fast enough. 1t Is
"a gianipg to grow light In the east
= The faces of both turned IN that
Il reotion where appeared he arst I
Eight approach Of dawn Alrea
u we're visible the dark lines OF the
a posite shore, across the CLEAN OF
ter, and beyond appeared the dim o
line of the higher bluffs. The slope
tween river and hill, however
manned in impenetrabie darkness !
minds of both fugitives reverted