Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1914-11-20

They Fought Like Madmen.
done my best. l suppose it's wrong
to give up-but they've made 1t too
much for me. this time"
Il know" she said gently.
"You"-he stammered-"you're not
afraid?"
. There is nothing to fear" she said.
but death. ;"
"Then," he said more bravely, after
a time-the water now was near his
"good-by-good luck!"
mot yet. dear friend" she returned,
mot yet"
But the sun was perilously close
upon the rim of the world. But a little
time, and 1t would be night.
He closed his eyes to shut out the
vision Of its slow, implacable descent.
The water was now almost level
with his lips; 1t seemed strange that
his throat could be so dry, so
parched
He opened his eyes, shuddering.
TITS good-by now" he faltered.
mot yeti" her voice rang beside
him, vibrant. LOOKUP there-along
the cliff"
He lifted his gaze
Two men were running along tho
cli6-and the man in the lead was
Alan. But his lead was very scant,
and the man who pursued was one Of
Judith's, and stuck to the trail like q
bloodhound fresh from the leash.
And now the water was at his lips:
Barcus could no more speak without
etrangling.
OF sudden he groaned in his heart:
though there was no passable way
down the cliff. still the sight of his
friend alive and unframed had brought
with It thrill Of hope; now that hope
died as he saw Alan stumble and 70
to his knees.
Before he could rise the other vas
upon him. with the fury of wolf seek
ing the throat of a stag.
For an instant they fought like mad.
men; then. in a trice. the eky line
of the cliff was empty; one o. the
other had tripped and fallen over tho
brink, and falling had retained hold
Of his enemy and carried him down a.
we'll.
By no chance. Barcus told himself.
could either escape uninjured.
Yet. to his amazement, he saw ono
man break from the others embrace
and rise. And he who lay still, q
crumpled. inhuman heap upon tho
sands, was Judith's man.
With violent effort Barcus lifted
his mouth above water and shrieked:
ALAN! Alan! Help! Here-at tho
end Of the point-in the water-help!"
A precious minute was lost before
Alan discovered their two heads. 60
barely above that swiftly rising food.
Then he ran toward them as he had
never run before. andaas he came
whipped oat jack-knIfe and freed ito
blade.
Even so-since 1t was, of course.
Rose whom Alan freed the hrst-
Barcus was half.drowned before Alan
helped him in turn up to the beach.
And a. this happened the last blood.
red rim Of the sun was washed under
by the waves.
Two minutes later the lifeboat was
ahoat. and Mr.. Barcus. already recov.
cred. was laboring with the dyvheel
Of the motor. stimulated to supreme
exertion by the sight Of party, led b.
Judith. racing madly down the beach.
But It was not until we'll out from
shore and on the way to the safety
promised BY the mainland-nov read.
lily discernible on the horizon-thae
any one Of them found time for speseh.
Then Mr.. Barcus Strengthened IN
from his assiduous attentions 70 tho
motor. and observed:
you bear q charmed life. my "A.
venturous friend. want to tell xou
that when I saw you 60 over, that cliR
! made up my mind your. usefulness
would be ct least permanently i'm.
paired. Al It 10. I don't mind telling
you that II ever get out OF this afrair
alive. I'm going to have q try At your
life myself. Just once. for luckl"
eTo BE coNT1svInn)