Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-04-12
CHAPTER w.
Across the Traverse,


Elliot took of his shoes and turned
toward the traverse.
think I'll see If I can cross to that
stairway. You had better wait here.
Miss O'Neill. until we find out If 1t
can be DONE"
Sheba looked across the cliff and
down to the boulder bed two hundred
feet below. you can never do 1t in
the world. Isn't there another way
upT
mo. The wall above us slopes out.
I've got to cross to the stairway. II
make 1t I'm going to get a rope"
do you mean you're going back to
town for oner
sYes."
Her eyes fastened to HIS In long.
unspoken question. She read the an
swer. He was afraid to have her try
the trough again. To get back to town
by way Of their roundabout ascent
would waste time. If he was going to
rescue her before night, he must take
the shortest cut, and that was across
the face of the sheer cliff. For the
first time she understood how serious
was their plight.
The glance Of the girl swept again
the face Of the wall he must cross. It
could not be done without q rope. Her
fear-filled eyes came back to his. Its
my fault. 1 made you come" she said
in low voice.
Nonsense" he answered cheerfully.
There's no harm done. II l can't
reach the stairway 1 can come back
and 60 down by the trough"
Sheba assented dOubtfully.
It had come on to drizzle again.
The rain was fine and cold, almost a
mist, and already 1t was forming q film
of ice on the rocks.
II can't take time to 60 back by the
trough. The point is that I don't want
you camped up here after night. There
has been no sun on this side of the
spur and In the chill of the evening 1t
must get cold even in summer"
He was making his preparations as
he talked. His coat he took of and
threw down. His shoes he tied by the
laces to his belt.
"rll try not to be very long," he
promised.
"It's Gods will then, so 1t is" she
sighed, relapsing into the vernncular.
Her voice was low and not very
steady. for the heart Of the girl was
heavy. She knew she must not pro-
test his decision. That was not the
way to play the game. But somehow
the salt had gone from their light
hearted adventure.
Elliot took her little hand in a warm,
strong grip. you're not going to be
afraid. Well work out all right, you
know"
EYES,"
"It's not Just the thing to leave a
lady in the rain when you take her
For n walk. but II can't be helped.
Wen laugh about 1t tomorrow"
Would they? she wondered, answer.
Ing his smile family. Her courage was
sapped.
He turned to tie climb.
1Ou We lOI SOttcu yOuT COdt, SQe re- |
minded.
I'm travelling light this trip. You'd |
better slip 1t on before you get chilled"
Sheba knew he had left It on DUR
pose for her.
Her fascinated eyes followed him
while he moved out from the plateau
across the face Of the precipice. He
had none Of the tools for climbing
10 rope. no Ratchet, none Of the SUD-
BORT Of numbers. All the allies he
,ould summon were his bare hands
nd feet. his resilient muscles. and his
stout heart. To make II worse. the
&c film from the rain coated every
utting inch Of quartz with danger.
But he worked steadily forward,
moving with the infinite caution Of one
Who knows that there will he no
nance to remedy later any mistake.
slight error in judgment. the failure
n response Of any one Of fifty muscles,
you'd send him plunging down.
Her eye left him for an instant to
weep the gulf below. She gave a
title cry. ran to his coat, and began