The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-07-16
The
Treacherous Ford
By WILLIAM II. GREENE
tCopyright.)


costumes, each with a rife upon his
shoulder, had just waded across Vel
low Greek, at point where there were
rocks to aid them, and firm, sandy
bottom, with no slippery mud.
One slightly in advance of the other.
they came upon what appeared to be
a narrow, but unusually hard, smooth
beach.
Suddenly the one in front stumbled
slightly and stopped, his feet spread
apart in peculiar attitude.
Look outw he cried.
whats the matter?" asked the 9th
er, stepping up TO his side
He needed no reply to this question,
however. He also slipped in the same
queer fashion.
See if you can step back" said the
younger Of the two men.
The other made a determined effort
to lift first one foot, and then the 9TH
er, but only succeeded in sinking them
both deeper into the treacherous.
harmless looking sand.
Il can't lift either foot" he painted.
See what you can do.'
The younger man made an equally
futile attempt. His feet seemed as if
held in wise, soft and yielding, but
stronger than steel.
Its no use" he said. And then,
with sudden access of terror: Look
It's almost up to my knees-the sticky,
Shiny stuff"
His lips twitched and drops of per-
spiration stood upon his forehead.
1T is up to my knees" said the
other. "Its-something's pulling at
my feet" His voice rose almost to
shrek. LET me go! I Oh"
The younger man had Strengthened
himself up, and as he watched his com
panion the look of terror on his own
face changed, and some of his color
returned. His lips ceased to trembIe.
and determined look came into his
eyes. Grasping the other by the arm,
and shaking him roughly, he said:
stop that Stop it, I say. We
mustn't lose our nerve now. We've got
to think quickly. Every second we
stand here we're sinking deeper It's
up to US. This is no time to get
scared"
That's right" agreed the older man.
controlling himself with an evident eff
fort. "Gee!" he added, passing his
hand across his face, 81 nearly went
off my trolley for a minute"
Don't give up" encouraged the 9TH
er. There ought to be some way out
of this"
His boyish face wore a puzzled. pro-
testing frOwn, as if he refused to be-
lieve that his life was about to be cut
Off in this sudden, cruel fashion.
Look here" he exclaimed after a
moments thought. "We're a couple of
fools. These rifles are weighing us
down."
They both tossed their weapons, and
all other articles of any weight, includ-
ing their coats and hats, upon the bank
IN front of them-the good, solid, hon
est ground, scarcely ten feet away
From the grass-covered bank their
gaze travelled on to the field, and then
to the woods and hills beyond. Hills
which they had wandered over and ex-
plored together as boys, and to which
they had returned every autumn for
several years, to hunt and fish, as they
had been doing that day.
From the shadow of the nearer hills
rose columns of blue smoke, indicating
the location of the little village of Wild
Rose. toward which they had been re-
turning.
Something must he done. Already
the slippery, oozing sand had reached
their knees, and was gradually crawl
ing higher and higher.
Good heavens, isn't there something
we can do?' said the shorter man.
Maybe you could lift me out" said
his younger compassion. You are
very strong. If l could get over to the
bank | could reach out one of the guns
for you to take hold of and drag
you out"
Without a word the shorter man
leaned over and grasped the other
about the legs, straining every muscle
until his face turned purple with the
effort and the veins stood out on his
forehead until it seemed as if they
must burst.
He succeeded only in burying his
own feet a little deeper in the merci-
less sand.
mo use" he admitted as he straight
ened up his chest heaving like bel
lows. II can't bulge YOU
Then his face which had been con-
torted with fear, assumed a crafty
look. He looked at his companion
with calculating eyes.
I've got an idea that might save
one of u.s. he said. There's no use
in both of US going under, if one can
be saved, is there?"
His face flushed, and he looked away
as he made the suggestion.
"NO | SllDOoSo not -" ancVarad tho