Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-06-22

III inc current Inefe were waves, ana
these increased in size as the bed of
TIC Salmon grew sleeper, until the pol
ing boat began to rear and leap like Il
frightened horse. The cleaning wall
ahead rose higher with every instant.
1t %overhung, Il giant, crumbling cliff,
imposing, trcachcrous. Then the
stream turned at right angles, they
were swept along parallel with the ice
face, and ahead of them for three
miles stretched the gauntlet. The tot
terlng wall seemed almost within
reaching distances; its breath was cold
and damp and clamm.. O'Neil stood
erect and powerful in the stern, sway
ing to the antics of the craft, his
weight upon the sweep, his eyes fixed
upon the thing overhead. The Nor
WeGian strained at his oars while the
sweat ran down into his open shirt.
The boat lunged and wallowed des-
pcrately, rising OF end, falling With
nrodigious slaps, drcnching the occu-
pants With spray. 1t was splendid,
terrifying. Eliza chung to her seat
tllu IciI lltl It;tllDtilS SlllOlllcIluS
her. Occasionally the oarsman turn
ed, staring past her with round, fright
cned eyes and affording her II glimpse
of q face working With mingled fear
and eXultation.
Thus far the glacier had not disput-
ed their passage. 1t maintained the
silence and the inlmobility of marble.
Nothing but the snarl of the surging
flood re-echoed from its face. But
! with the s~uddenness of q rifle shot
there came a defamation, louder, sharp
er than any blast Of powder. The
Norwegian cursed: the helmsman
dropped his eyes to the white face in
the bow and smiled.
Half Il mile ahead of them a mass
Of ice came rumbling down, and the
whole valley rocked with the sound.
Onward the little craft fled, a dancing
speck beneath the majesty of that
frozen giant, an atom threatened by
through the opening of the gorge be
low came q glimpse of the flats that
led to the sea \ moment later the boat
swung into an eddy and came to rest,
humping against the powders.
O'Ncil sat down, wiping his wet face.
We'll, was it worth your trouble,
Miss Observation-Disclosures" he asked.
oh, it was glorious, Ill never for
get it," Eliza's checks were burning
now, her aching hands relaxed their
hold, and she drew Il deep breath-the
first Of which she had been conscious
since the start, fifteen minutes before.
"Now, on with your boots and your
sweater. Wen have an hours wait
for Natalie"
She gave Il cry of surprise and of
fered him Il glimpse of a trim ankle
and Il dripping foot.
See! They're wet, and l wriggled
my toes right through my stockings.
nevcr was so excited"
The boatman fastened the painter
and resumed his outer clothing. O'Neil
lit Il cigar and asked:
Tell me, why did you insist on com
ing"
Il was afraid something might hap
pen to YOU" lie raised his brows, and
she flushed. Don't YOU understand
Dan would eve have forgiven me,
and-and-I just had to come, that's
all. It's corking material for mel
thought YOU might upset, and II
don't know why insisted" She bent
over her stubborn boots, hiding her
face. She was flaming to the ears, for
lIInn W cbn I-,,n,r tln 1,noscp 1 1ot ho1
prompted her. 1t rushed upon her like
Il sense Of great shame. She recalled
the desperate grip at her heart when
she had see him ready to leave, the
Wildness of her longing to share his
danger, the black fear that he might
meet disaster alone. 1t had all come
without warning, and there had been
no time Tor self consciousness, but
now she realized the truth. The poign-
ant pain of it made her fingers clumsy
and sent that flood of scarlet to her
neck and ears.
When Natalie arrived they cast off,
and the remaining miles We're made in
q few hours.
Appleton joined them for lunch in
LIZ ~ llCS lclllC1lDClCu 81 well anu
professed to be shocked at the report
Of his sisters foolhardiness. But what
ever may have been Natalie's fear of
ridicule it promptly disappeared under
his complete Endorsement Of her wis
dom in refraining from such a mad adj
venture. AS if to put her ever more
at ease O'Neil was especially attentive
to her, and Eliza reflected gloomily
that men. after all, dislike bravado in
women, that q trapeze artist or Il lady
balloonist inspires only a qualified adj
miration.
During O'Ncirs absence work had
progressed steadily. On his return he
found the grade completed to within a
few yards of Gordon's right Of way.
Although he was still unable to walk,
he insisted upon going to the front,
whittier he was helped by Appleton
and Happy Tom.