The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-11-06

"a . ~ 49,:
Precipitating Both Into That Savage
WeIter.
guide up the trail to signal us. Don't
you know what 1t means IL we don't
manage to escape before she gets
here?"
But how?"
According to the guide the rivers
the only way other than the trail"
THE current is too strong. They
could follow-pot us at leisure from
the banks"
but downstream-th current with
US"
Those rapids?"
"We must shoot them!"
"Can it be done?"
"It must be!'
Two more shots put O. period to
his doubts and drove it home. He
offered no further objection, but
turned at once TO launch one of the
canoes.
AS soon as 1t was in the water. Rose
took her place In the bow, paddle In
hand. and Alan was about to step in
astern when fourth shot sounded
and a bullet kicked up turf within a
dozen feet. n glance discovered two
figures debouching into the clearing.
he dropped into place and, planting
paddle In shadows, sent the canoe
well out with a vigorous thrust.
Two strokes took II to the middle
or the pool where Immediately the
current caught the little craft in its
urgent grasp and sped It smoothly
through more narrow and higher
banks. moment more and the
mouth OF the gorge was yawning Cor
them.
With the clean balance OF an ex-
perienced canoeman, Alan rose to his
feet for an instantaneous reconnois-
sance both forward and astern. He
looked back first. and groaned 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 wilderness
or shouting waters. white and green,
worse than anything he had antici-
pated or ever dreamed Of.
But there was now no escaping that
ordeal. The Canoe was already spin
ming between walls where the water
ran deep and fast with CLASSY sur
face.
The next instant II was in the Jaws;
and the man settled down to work
with grim determination pitting cour-
OF
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 one
must be synchronous with the other.
both instantaneous, or else-destruc-
tion.
The canoe wove this way and that
IKE an insane shuttle threading some
satanic loom. Now it hesitated, nuz-
zling gigantic boulder over which
the water wove q pale green and
glistening hood, now In the space of
q heartbeat 1t shot forward twice it's
length through a sea OF creaming
waves, now plunged wildly toward |
what promised instant annihiIation
and cheated that only by the timely |
plunge of 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 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 a boulder. turned turtle
and precipitated both headlons intd II
that savage welter. n