The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1915-02-27

/ But there was now no escaping that
ordeal. The canoe was already spin
ming between walls where tho water
ran deep and fast with q CLASSY sur
face. E4
The next instant II was In the jawsj
and the man settled down 10 work
with grim determination, pitting cour'
age and strength and experience
against the ravenihg waters that tore
at the canoo on every hand, whose
mad clamor beat back and forth bo-
tween the walls OF tho gorge like vast
beliowings OF informal mirth.
He fought like one possessed.
There was never an instants grace
for Judgment or execution; the one
must be synchronous with tho other,
both instantaneous, or else--destruc-
tion.
The canoe wove this way and that
like an insane shuttle threading eomo
satanic loom. Now II hesitated, nuz-
sling q gigantic boulder over which
the water wove pale green and
glistsning hood. now In the space of
q heartbeat II shot forward twice its
length through O sea OF creaming
waves, now plunged wildly toward
what promised instant annihilation
and cheated that only by tho timely
plunge OF a paddle. guided by luck or
instinct or both.
Tho ono ray OF hope in Alans mind,
when no surveyed before committing
himself and tho woman he loved 10
that hideouB gauntlet, sprang from
the fact that. however rough, tho
rapids were short. Now. when he had
boen In their grasp a minute, he
seemed 90 have been there hours.
His lnborings were tremendous, un-
bellevable. 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
broadsido to n boulder, turned turtle
and precipitated both headlong into
that savage wolter.
As tho next few minutes passed he
was fighting like a mad thing against
overwhelming odds. Then. OF a sud
don. he found himself rejected. spewed
forth from the cataract and swimming
mechanically In the smooth water OF
n wide pool beyond the lowermost
eddy, the canoe floating bottom up
near by. and Rose supporting herself
with one hand on II.
Her eyes met his, clear with the
nifv ~ har a. aba ,nurau.
He noundered to her side. painted In
structions to transfer her hand to his
shoulder. and struck out for tho
nearer shore.
Both found footing mt the same
time and waded out. TO collapse. ex-
hausted. against the bank.
Then. with n sickening qualm. Alan
remembered tho pursuit. lie rose and
looked up tho rapid Just In time to
view tho last swift quarter OF tho
canoes descent: Judith IN the bow.
motionless. n rife across her knees. In
tho stern an Indian guide kneellng
and fighting the waters with scarcely
percoptiblo effort In contrast with
Aan's supreme struggles.
Like living thing the canoe
seemed TO gather itself together. to
poise. TO leap with all its strength:
II hurdled the eddy In bound. took
tho sull water with mighty splash.
and shot downstream at diminished
speed. the Indian furiously backing
water.
AZ though that had been the one
moment sho had lived for. Judith
lifted her rino and brought It TO bear
upon her sister.
With a cry OF horror. Alan flung
himself before Rose. a living shield.
anticipating nothing but immediate
death. This vas not accorded him.
For a breathless instant the woman in