Gilpin observer., 1916-07-06

along the fall and the trench. Long
streamers Of Ame were licking across
1t. The half-looked-for had happened.
The little bunch of fighters were
hemmed in, ringed around by fire.
Death faced them on every side.
Then, as the owner sent searching
look to every quarter. he sprang for
ward.
"Here!" he cried. here! Into IT.!
Every man of you. In, say!"
At the crest of the sheer ridge an
old, abandoned tunnel gaped in the
gloom. a dim haven OF refuge. Its
mouth was overhung by vines. its re-
cess mysterious in the blackness. San
dry sprang to its edge and turned back
for the men to pass. They stood. a
small, silent bunch. gazing in wordless
CONSERVATION at the red canopy.
Now how in hell did it get across
the fall?" said Collins hoarsely.
But one by one they stopped and
entered the small black hole in the
earth. 1t ran backward into the ridge,
scarce the height of a tall man, it's
floor uneven with the heaps of earth
fallen from the roof since some long
forgotten prospector had carved it
out.
Here for a moment they breathed
more easily. standing close together,
a sweating. painting. waiting mass of
humanity. Sandry stood at the mouth.
the last to enter. He looked out in
hushed amaze at the unclaimed mad
ness of the burning world. The great
fire had reached its zenith. It came
booming and roaring to the fall and
the trench. Its sound was indescrib-
able. The heat grew until the flesh on
Sandry's arms and face rose in blis-
ters. A sheet of flame shot sheer
across the tunnels mouth. Smoke
rolled into it ana here and there a
gasping breath ended in a moan.
There was no air to breathe. Like
trapped animals the men jumped here
and there, feeling for an opening. a
crevice to crawl into, away from the
agony of heat and suffocation. And
then they lost control of themselves.
MY God" cried Murphy shrilly, II
can't stand ut! Let me out an I'll
die an get ut over!"
He came cropping to the entrance,
facing the increasing heat. His face
was a madman's. his mouth open, his
fingers crooked like talons. But at the
mouth, that was as the gate Of hell, he
met the fastener, straight figure
against the light beyond.
NO." said Sandry sternly. go back
and lie down.
"What?" he shrieked. what? You
damned Johnny! You tenderfoot!
III" And he flung himself forward.
A smooth. black muzzle came forth and
pushed its brazen menace into his
face.
"Ill shoot the first. man that At
tempts to pass me-" said Sandry
hoarsely.
Raving and cursing. he backed away.
More than one of the fourteen
begged to be allowed to pass, and one
OF the lumberjacks from Sacramento
muttered deliriously of calling his
bluff. But the awful moments dragged
by and Sandry stood at the entrance.
The flames passed all measurement of
light and heat. He lost sight of the
figures at his feet. He felt himself 60
ing out in the darkness.
"Sletz," he muttered. little Sletz-"
When he came to himself again, men
were crawling across him. He could
breathe better and the light had les
sened. He sat up, wincing at the NOV
ing Of his iscorched skin over the
muscles underneath. crawled out with
the rest and one by one they rose to
their feet. The great timber Of the
East Belt farther down stood serried
and green. The effort had not been in
vain. The holocaust was checked. the
Belt was safe.
Back toward the north stretched a
forest Of tall, black spikes. picked out
here and there by ,eavy spots of fire