The daily Alaskan., 1920-07-10

tnllk we'll try 10 ReI dWdy-uidhe break fer 1t in the dark. He'll have both them banks guarded, an ther fei- fers will have orders ter shoot. He'd rather have us dead than alive. But, to my notion, he won't expect us ter try any getaway before midnight. Anyhow, that's how I'd figure If l was in his place. But my idea Is to pull one off on him, an start the minute it gets dark enough so them lads can't see what's goin' on out yere."
 "WeIl fight our way through"
 "Not a fight, my son; we'll make 1t so softly that not a sOn-of-a-gun will ever know how 1t happened. When they wake up we'll he twenty miles out in the desert, an still a goin'. Thar's a big log clinging ter the upper end O tn rock. I saw 1t when fust come over; an bout an hour ago l crept back through that gully an took a good look. A shove will send it flOatin'. An with n good pair O legs to steer with, thar ain't nuthin' to stop 1t this side the curve, an I don't calculate any O the rife brigade win be down as fur as that. It sounds blame good ter me, Jim; what dye say?"
 Westcotts hand went out, and the fingers of the two men clasped silent ly. There was no need for more speech; they understood each other.
 The night closed down swiftly, as 1t does in the West, the purple of the hills becoming black as though by some magic. There was a heavy cloud hanging in the Western sky, con- stantly sweeping higher in pledge of a dark night. The banks of the stream became obscured, and finally vanished altogether; while the water ceased to glimmer and turned to an inky black ness. Lights twinkled in the distant ShackS, and the front of the Red Dog burst into illumination. Brennan chucklcd. and pointed his finger at the glare.
 "Lacy Oin't fcrgettin' the profit in all this" he whispered hoarsely. "The boys are goin' ter be dry, an hell sell 'em all they waEt--wouldn't mind if I had some myself. Is it dark enough, mater"
 "The sooner the better"
 That's my ticket. Come on then, but don't make a sound; them lads are more liable to hear than they are to see us. Let me go first"
 The log was at the Oti;er end of the little island. but there was consider able rift in the rock surface, not deep, but of sufficient width to permit the passage of a body. The jagged stone made the way rough !n the dark, and WestcOtt found himself at the upper extremity, gaShed and bruised by the contact.
 Brennan lowered himself into the water, assisted in the downward climb by some low, tough bushes whose ten drils clung tenaciouSly to the smooth rock. WestcOtt followed silently, and found footing in about three feet of water, where 1t swirled around the base of the island. Brennan put his lips close to his companions ear.
 "Got yer cartridges tied up? That's all right; hand 'eIn over. You hang on to the outside, an I'll push off. If yer have ter paddle ter keep in the currSnt, don't let yer hands CT feet come to the surface-understandT
 Certainly"
 All right then; are you all set? Holy smoke, this is going to be some yacht ride" r.-
 The log did not even grate as 1t lOos- ened it's slight hold on the rock, and began the voyage downstream. The current was swift enough to bear It and its burden free from the island, although it moved slowly and noise lessly on it's way. The two men deep ly submerged on either side, with heads held rigid against the wet bark, were inGstnguishable. Out from the deep CT shadow. Brennan gently controlled the unwieldy affair. and keeping 1t as nearly as possible to the center, by the nOiSeleSS movement of a hand under water. No alarm greeted its progress, and at last, confident that they were al- ready safely below the extent of the guard line, the two men, clinging to it's wet sides. vcntured to kick out quietly, and thus hasten its progress. It came ashore at the extreme end of the curve, and, after q moment of intent listen- ing, the voyagers crept up the sand, and in whispers discussed the next ef- fort of their escape. The belts were unstrapped from about the log, reload. ed with cartridges, and buckled around dripping waists, before they clambered cautiously up the low bank. The road was just beyond, but between them and 1t arose the almost shapeless form of q small house, mere darker shadow in the gloom of the night. "Where are we" questioned Vest colt.
 "Just back of old Beecher's shack,