Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-28
Copyright, 1918. by Harper & Brothers

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 lashing fast the contents Of the
skif. a 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 food. O'Neil stood
as best he could on his firm leg and
steered by means Of a 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 melo-
drama. The same glance showed her
! that they were rushing directly to
ward the upper rampartS OF Jackson
[ glacier, as if for an assault Out here
/ in the current there were waves, and
| these increased in size as the bed Of
the Salmon grew sleeper, until the pol
| ing boat began to rear and leap like
! frightened horse. The cleaning wall
ahead rose higher with every instant.
| It overhung. giant. crumbling cliff,
imposing. treacherous. 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
tering wall seemed almost within
reaching distance; its breath was cold
and damp and clammy. 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 this
sweat ran down into his open shirt
The boat hinged and widowed des
perately. rising on end. falling With
prodigious slaps. drenching the occu
pants with spray. 1t was splendid.
terrifying. Eliza chung to her seal
and felt her heartbeats smotherine
her Occasionally the oarsman turn
. ed. staring past her With round. fright
, ened eyes and afford;ng her IA glimpse
of a face working with mingled feal
and exultation.
Thus far the glacier had not disput
ed their passage. 1t maintained the
= silence and the immobility of marble
, Nothing but the snarl of the surgine
food re-echoed from its face. Blu
: with the suddenness Of a rife sho
| there came a detonation, louder, sharp
/, er than any blast of powder. Tn
: Norwegian cursed the helmsmal
D dropped his eyes to the white face II
the bow and smiled.
q Half a mile ahead of them a mas
Il Of ice came rumbling down. and tn
whole valley rocked with the sount
e Onward the little craft fed. dancin
speck beneath the majesty Of tina
! frozen giant, an atom threatened b
S the weight of mountains. At las
I through the opening of the gorge bt
4 low came a glimpse of the fats tina
: led to the sea 4 moment later the boa
swung into an eddy and came to res
humping against the powders.
O'Neil sat down, wipinS his wet fact
We'll, was it worth your trouble
Miss kick-over- the-tracesT he asked
i "Oh, it was glorious, I'll never fol
get it," ElZa'S cheeks were burnin
now, her aching hands relaxed thei
hold. and she drew deep breath-th
first of which she had been consciou
since the start, fifteen minutes before
Now, on with your boots and you
sweater. Wen have an hours wal
for Natalie"