Gunnison news-champion., 1913-03-07

ve" NE, Aeo vou Nu0T
water even than he had anticipated
lie was wet only to the thighs when
he t0lled gp on to the low spit of sand.
and put the girl down q moment to
catch q fresh breath and examine the
broader stretch Of water ahead. They
could see both shores now. that which
they had just left, q blacA, 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 it wss like some Dreadful delirium
Of sheep. but the man felt the full
struggle. There was a star well down
in ths south he chose to guide by, but
beyeel that be must trust to good for.
tune. without q word he lifted her
again 10 his shoulder. and pushed on.
The water ran deeper. shelving on
sapidly, until II rose well above his
waist, and with suficient current 90
that BE vas compelled to lean against
II TO maintain balance, scarcely ven,
turing forward Q foot at q time. Once
- stumbled over some obstruction.
barely averting a fall; he felt the
swim clutch of her fingers at his
throat, the quick adjustment Of her
boAy, but her lips gave no utterance
Of ALARM His cropping feet touched
the eAGe Of . hole, and he turned, fac
inG the current, tracing his way care
fully until he found Q passage on solid
bottom a bit Of driftwool swirleA
tsvn cut Of the night; . wates-soaheA
anh. striking against him before il
wss even seen. bruised one arm, ana
thsa toAGel past like . wild thing,
leaving . glitter Of foam behind. The
sanl-dunes grew darker, more Ais-
tinct. the water began to grow shall
lsw. the bottom changing from mud to
sanl- He slipped and staggered in
he uncertain footing. his breath com
inG In quicker Gasps, yet with no cess
ettea u effort. Once Ae felt the dread
- suck about his ankles, and broke
into . reckless run. splashing s2raisht
forward. falling at the waters edge,
yet not before the girl was resting
safely on the soft sand.
Strong - Hamlin was. his muscles
tfainel By strenuous outdoor life, he
lay there for . moment utterly help
less, more exhausted from the nervous
strain indeed. than the physical exer-
ti0n. He had realised fully the des-
perate nature Of that passage, expect
~ every step to be engulfed, ana the
the knowledge that they had
actually attained the shore safely, LEFT
lin weak % . child. hardly able TO
the fact. The gin was
upoa her feet Arst. alarmed anl %
licitoss. bending down 70 touch him
wfth hef hand
eefgeant you are Ut hurt." she
lUestioeed- Tell ne you are not
hust?''
"oA. no. araegine himself NJ the
baak. yet painting - he endeavored
10 speak cheerfuIly. Only that was
, rsther hard pull. the last Of it, and I
n short OF breath I shall be all
light in q noment"
Thers vas . sand-Aune Just beyond.
md he seated himself and leaned
Aoainst t.
Il an beginning to breathe easier
he explained Sit down
here, Miss Mcdonald. We are safe
gnozeh nov in this darkness"
~You are all vet, soaking wet
That il nothing; the sand is warm
vet from yesterdays sun, and nv
clothes will dry fast enough. II il be-
ginning to grow light in the east"
The faces Of both turned in that d.
recticn where appeared the fr-t txi-
light approach of dawn. Already
wefe visible the dark lines of the or-
roeite shore. across the CLEAN Of wa
.er. ana beyond appeared the din out
iae Of the higher bluffs The slope be-
'wcen river and hill. however. re-
rsined in irDpenetrable darkness. The 4
ninds Of both fugifives reverted to