Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-08-26
CHAPTER Xxx.
Leroux's Diable.

went Dack toward Jne cave. But
could not bring myself to see Jacque-
line.
had reached the verge of the cata-
ract and stood beside the little plat
form. looking down. l gazed in awe
at the great stream of water, sending
fits ceaseless current down into the
troubled lake below.
And then | saw LacrOix. He was
peering after me from among the
rocks, and as l turned he was scut-
Ting away into the tunnel
I followed him holly; but he must
have known every fiSsure in the cliff,
for he vanished before my eyes, appar-
emily through the, solid rock, and when
1 reached, the place of his disappear
ance l could find no sign of any pas
sage there.
And at that moment I heard Lee
rOuxs voice hailing me. and looked
round to see him emerge from the tun-
mel at my side. He was staring in be
wilderment at the cataract.
by Heaven, Hewlett, l don't know
what possessed me to take the wrong
turn tonight" he swOre II have come
through that tunnel a hundred times
and never missed the path before"
He swung round petulantly, and at
that moment shadow glided out of
the darkness and stood in front of him.
1t was Pierre Caribou, lean, sinewy
and old. He blocked the path and
faced Leroux I'm silence.
LerCuX looked at him, and an oath
broke from his lips as he read the
others purpose upon his face. Squar-
ing his mighty shoulders and clench-
ing his fists, he leaped at him head
long.
Pierre stepped quietly aside. and
Simon measured his full length within
the tunnel. But, when he had scram-
bled to his feet with believing chal-
lenge. Pierre was in front OF him
again.
What are you mere for?' roared
Leroux, but in Quavering voice that
did not sound like his own. "Get out
of the way or TIL smash your face I"
The Indian still blocked the passage.
your time come now. Simon. All fin
ish now" he answered.
You come here one, two year ago. IS
Pierre continued. You eat ND home
of NJ. Duchaine, my master. Old NJ
Duchaine my master. too. belong
here. You eat up all, come back, eat
up some more. Then you sell Mile.
JacQueline to Louis d'Epernay. You
made her run way TO New York. I
ask your diable when your time come.
Your diable he say wait. wall. Mile
Jacqueline come back. I ask your
diable again. He say wait some more.
Now your diable tell me he send Won
here tonight because your time come.
and all finish now"
The face that Simon turned on me
was not in the least like his own. II
was that of hopeless man who knows
that everything he had priced Is lost.
He had never covered before anyone
in his life, think. but he covered
now before Pierre Caribou.
Then roar burst from LerouS's
lips. and he flung himself upon the In
dian in the same desperate way as I
had experienced, and in an instant the
two men were struggling at the edge
of the platform.
They bent and swayed. and now
LerOuN was forcing Pierre's head and
shoulders backward by the weight of
his bulls body. But the Indians
sinews, toughened by years of toll to
steel, held fast; and just as Leroux.
confident of victory. shifted his feet
and inclined forward. Pierre changed
his grasp and caught him by the
throat.
Leroux'S face blackened and his eyes
started out. His great chest heaved
and he tore impotently at his enemy
strong fingers that were shutting out
air and light and consciousness. They
rocked aRd swayed; then. with last
convulSive effort. Leroux swung Pierre
of his feet. raised him high in the air
and tried TO dash his body against the
projecting rock at the tunnels mouth
But stin the Indians fingers held
AMI as his Consciousness began TO fade