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

IN '>'>Ns tiiNi Sii Wv
fourth morning he determined
TO leave ut whatever cost in pain or
danger TO Che injury. He cave orders,
therefore, 10 have Il boat prepared and
allowed himself to be carried to it,.
The foreman OF the bridge crow he del
cgated to guide the girls down across
the moraiMe, whore he promised to pick
Them UP. HE men who had come With
him he sent Oh To the cataract where
Dan had been.
aren't you coming With u.s." asked
Natalie, when they found him seated
in the slsitf with an oarSman.
Its rough going. I'd have to be car
ricd, so l prefer ;his,' he told them.
'"Then We'll go with you,'' Eliza
promptly declared.
Natalie paled and shook her dark
head. is it safc?' she yentured.
'No, it isn't. Run along, now. I'll be
down there waiting when you arrive"
eff it's safe enough for you it's safe
enough for US" said Eliza. Climbing
into the boat, she pumped herself
down With 4 look which seemed to
defy any power to remove her. Her
blue eyes met O'Neil's gray ones with
them until this moment.
"Nonscnse, child..' he said. Don't
be silly"
"Don't you try to put me out. Ill
hang on and-kick. Don't you say
please cither,' she warned him.
81 must" he protested. "plcase don't
insist"
She scowlcd like an angry boy and
seized the gunWalcs firmly. Her cX-
preston made him smile despite his
annoyance, and this provoked her the
more.
Pm going" she asserted 1arkly.
This outing had done wonders for
both girls. The wind and the sunshine
had tanned them, the coarse fare had
lent them Il hearty vigor, and they
made charming pictures in their trim
short skirts and sweaters and leather
banded hats.
Very well. Ii you are going AXE off
our boots,' commanded O'Ncil.
What for:'
1--WE may be swamped and have to
swim for it. You see the man has
taken his OFFS Murray pointed to the
TaWboned Norwegian oarsman. who
had stripped down us if for Il 1ootrace.
Eliza obeyed.
Nov your sweater
Natalie had watched this scene With
evident concern. She now seated her
self upon Il hoWlder and began to tug
at her rubber boots.
"IIerc. Here. You're not going, too
O'Ncil exclaimed.
Yes, | AM. I'm frightened to death.
but | won't be Il coward" Her shak-
ing hands and strained voice left no
doubt of her seriousness.
"She can't SWIM" said Eliza. and
O'Neil put an end to this display of
heroism With Il firm refusal.
you'll think I'm afraid" Natalie
expostulated.
BLESS You. %: course we will. be
cause EolI are, so am |, and 80 is
Eliza, for tlH, matter. If YOU can't
swim you'd only be taking II foolish
risk and adding TO our danger. BE
sides, Eliza doesn't know the feel of
cold water as We do"
Natalie smiled a little trpmulously at
recollection of the shipwreck.
I'D much rather walk, OF course"
she said, and then to Eliza, 'It-it will
be a lovely ramble for us"
But Eliza shook her head. This is
material for my book, and I'll make
enough out of it to-to'-
Buy another orchard" Murray sug-
gested.
Feeling more resigned, now that the
adventure had taken On Il purely finan-
cial color, Natalie at length allowed
herself to be disSuaded, and Eliza set
tied herself in her seat with the dis
turbing consciousness that she had
made herself appear selfish and rude
in O'Neil's eyes. Nevertheless she had
no notion Of changing her mind.
When the other girl had gone the
oarsman completed his preparations
by flashing fast the contents of the
skiff, Il proceeding which Eliza watch
ed with some uneasiness. O'Neil show
ed his resentment by a pointed silence.
which nettled her, and she resolved to
hold her seat though the boat turned
sOmerSaultS.
Word was finally given, and they
swung out into the flood. O'Neil stood
as best he could on his firm leg and
steered by means Of Il sculling oar,
while the Norwegian rowed Justify.
Bits Of drift, patches OF froth, frag-
ments of ice accompanied them, bob
bing alongside SO persistently that
Eliza fancied the boat must be sta
tionary until. glancing at the river
banks, she saw them racing past like
the panoramic scenery in a mclo-
drama. The same glance showed her
that they were rushing directly to,
ward the upper lAmparls of Jackson