The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-18

The foreman Of the bridge crew he del egated to guide the girls down across the Daoraine, where he promised to pick them up. The men who had come with him he sent on to the cataract where Dan had been.
 Aren't you coming with us 2" asked Natalie, when they found him seated in the skff with an oarsman-
 'sIt,s rough going. I'd have to be car ried, so T prefer this,'' be told them.
 Then we'll go with you, Eliza promptly declared.
 Natalie paled and shook her dark head. .tIs it safe?g she ventured.
 .sNo, it isn't. Run along, now. I'll be down there waiting when you arrive.''
 ''If it's safe enough for you it's safe enough for us, said Eliza. Climbing into the boat, she plunped herself down with & look which seemed to defy any power Ito remove her. Hee blue eyes met O'Neils gray ones with an expression he had never. seen in them until this moment.
 Nonsense, chiIdl'' he said. Don't be silly
 Don't you try to put me out. I'll hang on and-kick- Don't you say please either she warned him.
 T must he protested Please don't insist"
 She scpwIed like am angry boy and seized the gunwales firmly. Her ex- precision made him smile despite his annoyance, and this provoked her the more.
 ssI,m going" she asserted darlxIy.F
 This outing had done wonders for both girls The<wind and the sunshine had tanned them, the coarse fare had lent them a hearty vigor, and they made charming pictures in their trim short skirts and sweaters and leather banded hats.
 Very well. IT yeu are going take off your boots, commanded O'Nen.
 What for P
 "We may be Sswamped and have to swim for it. You see the man has taken his off" Murray pointed to the, rawboned Norwegian oarsman, who had stripped down as if for a footrace. Eliza obeyed.
 Now your sweater.1
 Natalie had watched this scene with evident concern; She now seated her self upon bowlder and began to tug at her rubber boots.
 Here! Here. You're not going, too,' O'Neil exclaimed
 ssYes, am. Pm frightened to death. but won't be a coward Her shak- ing hands and strained voice left no doubt of. her seriousness.
 She can't swim. ]" said Eliza, and O'Nen put an end to this display of sheroism with a firm refusal
 .sYou,n think I'm afraid" Natalie expost1lated.
 Bless you, of course we will, be- G. r Eliza, for that matter If you can't swim you'd only be taking a faolish risk and adding to our danger Be sides, Eliza doesn't know the feel of cold water as we do"
 Natalie smiled a little tremulously at recollection of the shipwreck.
 '1'd much rather walk, of course,' she said, and then to Eliza. lit will be a lovely ramble for us.''
 But Eliza shook her head. This is material for my book, and Pn make enough out of it to-tov-s
 Buy another orchard 7 Murray sug- gested.
 Feeling more resigned, now that the adventure had taken ca purely finan- cial color, Natalie at length allowed herself to be dissuaded, and Eliza set tied herself in her seat with the dis, turbing consciousnesss 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, a proceeding which Eliza watch cd with some uneasiness. O'Neil show ed his resentment by pointed silence. which nettled .hcl, and she resolved to hold her seat though the boat turned somersau1ts.
 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 a sculIing oar, while the Norwegian rowed 1ustily.
 Bits of drift, patches of froth. frag- ments of ice accompanied them. bob ping alongside so persfstently that Eliza fancied the boat must be sta- tfonary until, gIancing at the river banks, she saw them racing past like the panoramic scenery in a 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 incfeased in size as the bed of tue Odl1nOu grew Spe6per, unt1l the pol ing boat began to rear and leap like a frightened horse. The gleaning wall ahead rose higher with every instant 1t overhung. a giant, crumbIing 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 terfng wall seemed almost within reaching distanoe;. ifts- -E1reaEh was cold