The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-05

TO the window Of her room. A far-on
meal of thunder echoed from the noun
tains. Luckily, no flash had preceded
LII. and Nan, rifle in hand, slid safely
down to the end of the lean-to. where
IDe Spain helped her to the ground.
HE directed her how to make zigzag
advance toward the pine, and, above
Ian. TO throw herself fiat and sidewise
after every shot-and not to fire
often.
In this way they advanced slowly
4 but safely to the disputed point and
then understandable horses were
Il gone. A fresh discharge Of shots came
. from two directions-se seemingly from
Ithe house and the stable. A moment
later they heard sharp firing far down
the gap-their sole avenue Of escape.
4, They withdrew to the shelter of
large rock familiar to Nan even in the
ldark. While De Spain was debating
|lh his mind how to meet the emer-
gency, she stood at his side, his equal
he knew in courage, daring and re-
4 source, and answered his rapid Ques-
tons as to possible gateways Of
escape. The rain, which had been
], abating, now ceased, but from every
II fissure In the mountains came the roar
4 Of rushing water, and little openings
of rock and waterway that might have
Il nff dry M
out of the question. In fact, 1t was
Mans belief that before morning wa
tier would be running over the main
\ trail itself.
Il "Yet," said De Spain finally, before
morning we must be long way from
this particular spot, Nan. Sassoon
has posted men at the neck Of the
gap--that's the first thing he would do.
lIll tell you," he said suddenly, as
Ewhen after long uncertainty and anx-
ious doubt one chooses an alternative
, and hastens to follow it. Retreat is
J the thing for us, Nan. Let's make for
Music mountain and crawl into our
cave till morning. Lefever will get
we can connect with him."
Realizing that no time was to be lost,
they set out on the long journey. Ev-
cry foot of the troublesome way Of
!, fered difficulties. Water impeded them
continually. Nan picked their trail.
But for her perfect familiarity with
every foot of the ground, they could
! not have got to the mountain at all.
When they got to the mountain trail
Itself they found their way swept by
mad rush Of falling water, its deafen-
ing roar punctured by fragments of
!; loosened rock which, swept downward
from ledge to ledge, split and thun-
dered as they dashed themselves
against the mountainside. On pro-
tected floor the two stood sfor a mo-
J ment, listening to the roar of the cata-
tract that had cut them off their refuge.
H "No use, Man," said Do Spain.
There isn't any other trail, IS there|
~ gne told him there was no other.
- ced this will run all night. Henry"
Il tnrnin2 sta him and as If
Is Of a question she wanted to
4 Az, chow did you happen to come to
4 me tonight when 1 wanted you sol"
II came because you sent for me-"
i he answered, surprised.
4 'But didn't send for you"
He stopped, dumfounded. "What
do you mean, Nan?" he demanded I'M
easily. II got your message on the
telephone last night, In my office at
Sleepy Cat, from man that refused
to give his name"
II never sent any message to you,"
she insisted In growing wonderment
- have been locked in a room for
shree days, dearie. The Lord knows
/ wanted to send you word. Who ever
telephoned a message like that? Was
1t a trap to get you in here"
He told her the story-of the siren
uOus efforts he had made to discover
the identity of the messenger-and
how he had been baked. "No mat
ter" said Nan at last. 1T couldn't
have been trap. 1t must have been
a friend, surely, not an enemy.
"Henry," every time she repeated
his name De Spain cared less for
what should happen in the rest of the
: world, "what are we going to do now?
, We can't stay here all highland
take what they will greet us with in
, the morning."
He answered her question with an
Iother: "What about trying to get out
by Eel Capitan?"
Il She started in spite Of herself ut
would be certain death, Henry"
Il don't mean at the worst to try
to cross 1t till we get glimpse of
daylight. But it's quite way over
there. The question is Can we find
q trail up to where we want to go?'
, Il know two or three" she an
, swered, IF they are only not flooded"
The storm seemed to have passed,
but the darkness was intense, and
from above the northern Superstitions
came low mutterings of thunder. Com
PEELED to strike out over the rocks to
get up to any of the trails toward Ell
Captain, Nan, helped by De Spain
II when he could help led the ascent