New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-09-30

AHAus AuU Al1u was about 20 step IN
astern when fourth shot sounded
and Gllet kicked up turf within .
dozen feet. A glance discovered two
figures debouching into the clearing.
He dropped into place and, planting
paddle in shadows, sent the canoe
well out with vigorous thrust.
Two strokes took It to the middle
OF the pool where Immediately the
current caught the little craft in its
urgent grasp and sped It smoothly
through more narrow and higher
banks. A moment more and the
mouth Of the gorge was yawninx for
them.
With the clean balance Of an az.
pertenced canoeman, Alan rose to hin
feet for an instantaneous reconnots-
sance both forward and astern. He
looked back first, and sroaned in his
heart to see the sharp PROV Of the
second canoe glide out from the,
banks. He looked ahead and groaned
aloud. The rapids were q wilderness,
OF shouting waters, white and green.
worse than anything he had antica-
1esed or ever dreamed of.
But there cas now ~ escaping that
ordeal. The canoe was already spin.
ming between walls where the water
ran deep and fast with q CLASSY sur.
face.
The next instant 1t was in the Jaws:
and the man settled down to work
with grim determination, pitting cour.
age and strength and experiences
against the ravening waters that tore
at the canoe on every hand, whose
mad clamor beat back and forth be-
tween the walls Of the gorge like vast
bellowings of Internal mirth.
He fought like one possessed.
There was never an instant's grace
for judgment or execution; the ono
must be synchronous with the, other.
both instantaneous. or else destruc-
ton.
The canoe wove this way and that
like an insane shuttle threading some
satanic loom. Now it hesitated, nux-
cling a gigantic boulder over which
the water wove a pale green and
gl1stening hood, now in the space of
heartbeat it shot forward twice its
length through sea of Dreaming
waves, now plunged wildly toward
what promised instant humiliation
and cheated that only by the timely !
plunge of q paddle, guided by luck or
instinct or both.
The one ray of hope in Alan's mind.
when he surveyed before committing
himself and the woman he loved to
that hideous gauntlet, sprang from
the fact that, however rough, the
rapids were short. Now. when he had
been In their grasp q minute, he
seemed to have been there hours.
His laborings were tremendous. un-
believable, inspired. In the end they
were all but successful. The. goal Of
safety was within thirty seconds
more OF quick, hard work, when Alan's
paddle broke and the canoe swung
broadside to boulder, turned turtle
and precipitated both headlong into
that savage weller.
AS the next few minutes passed ho
was fighting like q mad thing against
overwhelming odds Then, Of a sud
den, he found himself rejected, spewed
forth from the cataract and swimming
mechanically in the smooth water Of
a wide pool beyond the lowermost
eddy. the canoe floating bottom up
near by. and Rose supporting herself
with one hand on it.
Her eyes met his. clear with thu
sanity OF her adorable courage.
He houndered to her side, painted in.
structions to transfer her hai1d to his
shoulder, and struck out for the
nearer shore.
Both found footing at the same
time and waded out, to collapse. ex.
hausted. against the bank.
Then, with a sickeninR uualm. Alan
remembered the pursuit. He rose and
looked up the rapid just in, time to
view the last swift quarter Of the
canoes descent: Judith in the bow.
modonless, rife across her knees. in
the stern an Indian guide kneelins
and fighting the waters with Scarcely
k.SASSPsAOA0 OAO1I III contrast with
Aan's supreme struggles.
Like . living thing the canoe
seemed to gather itself together, to
poise, to leap with all its strength:
1t hurdled the eddy in q bound. took
the still water with a mighty splash.
ana shot downstream at diminished >
speed. the Indian furiously backing
water.
AS though that had been the ono
moment she had lived for. Judith
lifted her rifle and brought it to bear
upon her sister.
With q cry Of horror. Alan funs
himself before Rose, q living shield
anticipating nothing but immediats
death. This was not accorded him
FOR q breathless instant the woman in
the canoe stared along the sights
then lowered her weapon and, turn
Ing. spoke incistinguishably Ia the
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