Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-11-08

understand, he said DULY. 1T doesn't seem pos
sible she could"
A shot interrupted him. the report of rife from
a considerable distance upstream echoed and re.
echoed by the cliffs. And at this cutching fran
tically at his arm; the girl drew him through tho
door and down toward the river.
ooh. come, COME" she cried wildly. There's no
timcl"
But, why? What that"
Judith is returning. l left my guide up the
trail to signal Don't you know what 1t means
if 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 at leisure from the banks"
But downstream-the current with US"
Those rapids?"
I'VE must shoot them"
Can it be done?"
1T must be,
Two shots put period to his doubts apd
drove it horla. He offered further objection,
but turned at once TO launch one of the canoes.
AS soon it in the water. Rose took her
plar in the bow paddle in hand. and Alan was
about to step in astern when fourth shot sounded
and bullet kicked up turf within dozen feet.
glance discovered two figures debouching into the
clearing. He dropped into place and. planting pad
die 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. moment
more and the mouth of the gorge was yawning for
them
With the clean balance of an experienced canoe
man. Alan to his feet for an instantaneous re-
connoiseance 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
avid Wild fcbO +jpr yuht
and green, worse than anything he had anticipated
dreamed Of
But there now escaping that ordeal The
already spinning between walls where
the water ran deep and fast with CLASSY surface
The next instant it was in the Jaws; and the man
settled down to work with grim determination pit
ting courage and strength and experience against
the ravening waters that tore at the canoe on
every hand. whose mad clamor beat back and forth
between the walls of the gorge like vast belowings
of internal mirth.
He fought like one possesss There never
an instant's grace for judgment or execution: the
one must be synchronous with the other, both in.
Simultaneous, or Dissatisfaction.
The canoe wove this way and that like insane
shuttle threading some satanic loom. Now 1t hesi-
tated nuzzng gigantic boulder over which the
water pale green and glistening hood, now
in the space OF a heartbeat it shot forward twice
its length through of Dreaming waves now
plunged wildly toward what promised instant ami
hilation and cheated that only by the timely plunge
CT 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
minute he seemed to have been there hours
His laborngs were tremendous unbelievable In
spired In the end they all but successful.
The goal of safety within thirty seconds more
of quick hard work when Alans paddle broke and
the swung broadsde to boulder. turned
turtle and precipiated both headong into that
age welter.
As the next few moments passed he fighting
like mad thing against overwhelming odds Then.
of a sudden, he found himself rejected. spewed
forth from the cataract and swimming mechanical
ly 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 eve met his clear with the sanity Of her
adorable
He founderea to her side painted instructions to
transfer her hand to his shoulder. and struck out
for the nearer shore.
Both found footing at the time and waded
out to collapse exhausted, against the bank
Then with sickening qualm Alan remembered
the pursuit He and looked up the rapid just
in time to view the last swift quarter Of the canoes
descent: Judith in the bow motionless. a rife
Su10o
kneeling and fighting the waters with scarcely per
ceptble effort in contrast with Alans supreme
struggles
Like living thing the canoe seemed to gather
itself together, to poise, to leap with all its
strength; it hurdled the eddy in bound. took the
still water with mighty splash and shot down
stream at diminished speed, the Indian furiously
backing water.
AS though that had been the one moment she
had lived for Judith lifted her rifle and brought il
to bear-upon her sister.
With cry of horror Alan flung himself before
Rose living shield anticipating nothing but i'm
mediate death This not accorded him Fol
breathless instant the woman in the canoe stared
along the sights. then lowered her weapon and
turning, spoke indistnSuishaby to the guide wht
instantly began to ply q brisk paddle
The canoe sped on, vanished swiftly round
bend. ~
After long time. alan voiced his unmitigates
amazement.
"Why-in the name of heaven, why" .a
The girl said duly: Don't you know" Ant
when he shook his head. Her guide told min
you had saved her life the dam at Spirit Lake
Now do you see?"
His countenance was blank with wonder: Graft
tude?"