Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-12-03


Up above, Del Mar and his man
came to the edge of the water. There
they stood for moment looking down.
There she is" pointed the man.
Del Mar raised his revolver and
fired.
Suddenly a bullet struck Elaine's
paddle and broke it. Clutching the
useless splintered shaft, she was now
at the mercy of the current swept
along like a piece of driftwood.
She looked about frantically. What
was that roaring noise?
II was the waterfalls ahead!
In the meantime Del Mars other
two men had entered the house and
had run upstairs. knowing well his
wrath II anything had happened. As
they did so, the naturalist poked his
head cautiously out of the kitchen
where he had been hiding. and saw
them. Then he followed noiselessly.
his revolver ready.
Headlong they ran into the room
where they had left Elaine. She was
gone!
Before they could turn the natural
list locked the door, turned. and took
the steps down, two at a time.
Then he ran out of the front door
and into the woods at an angle to the
direction taken by Elaine, turning and
going down hill, where q rapid. swollen
stream curved about through
gorge. As he reached the stream he
heard q shot above.
He looked up. There was Elaine.
swept down toward him. Below he
knew the stream tumbled over . tall
cataract into the gorge below.
What could he do?
A sudden cracking of the twigs
caused him to turn and catch sight Of
me. Just coming up.
For, as best l could on horseback.
had followed Elaine's car until at
last saw that 1t had been abandoned.
Thoroughly alarmed. rode on, past
q deserted house. until suddenly
heard a shot and scream. 1t seemed
to come from below me. and leaped
OF my horse, making for 1t as fast a.
l could, racing toward q stream whose
roar could hear.
There on the bank I came upon q
queer old codger, looking about wildly.
Was he the automobile thief? / ran
forward. ready to seize him. But AZ
; did so he whirled about, and with q
strength remarkable in one so old.
seized my wrist before ! could get
his.
Look" he cried simply, pointing
up the stream.
did. A girl in canoe was coming
down toward the falls, screaming. her
paddle broken and useless. My heart
leaped into my mouth. 1t was Elaine!
"Come!" he painted eagerly to me. u
can save her. You must do just az,
say"
: He pointed to an overhanging roch
near by and we ran to 1t.
By this time Elaine was almost upor
us, each second getting nearer thu
veritable maelstrom above the falls.
From the rock overhung also tre'
! at the very edge Of the water.
There was nothing to do but ODE!
him. Above, though we did not SCI
them, Del Mar and his man were gloat
ing over the result Of their work. Blu
I they were groating too soon. We cam
to the rock and the tree.
Here" cried the newfound friend
I'll get hold Of the trea and then hol
! you"
Instantly he threw himself on hi
y stomach, hooking his leg about tn
q tree trunk. / crawled out over tn
ledge of slippery rock to the very edg
T. and looked over. It was the onl
- chance.
The old naturalist seized my legs !
r his hands. l slid down the rock. lie
= ting myself 60.
r Literally, his presence Of mind ha
+ invented what was really q life chail
q human rope.
ID On came the canoe, Elaine In 1t
'e white a. death. crying out and tryin
q to stop or guide 1t ~. nearer and nea
3 er though the smooth. worn walls
4 the chasm, 1t whirled to the falls.
=, With q grip of steel the naturalii
held to the tree, which swayed N
z bent, while also he held me. - II
q wise, head down.
n On came Elaine-directly at NJ.
II She stood up and balanced herself.
dangerous feat in . canoe at n
Id time, but doubly % in those dar
ar swirling, treacherous waters.
r. Steady" I encouraged. Grab u
ID arms!"
As the canoe reached us she gave
IN little jump and seized my forearm
st Her hands slipped. but grasped b
ne own arms, and we held each other.
The momentum Of her body VI
great. For an instant I thought '
az were all going over. But the natur'
list held his grip and slowly began
I'd pull himself and Us up the slippe
re- rock.
he A second later the canoe crash
a over the falls in . cloud Of spray q
w pounding water.
In As we reached the bank above {
In rock almost lifted Elaine and set b
re down, trembling and gasping
breath. Before either Of US knew
an the queer old fellow had plunged in
m. the bushes and was gone without
ly. other word.
ng Walter" she cried, "call him bal
al must tell him how much owe him
I'm NV ufei"