The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-12-16
Continued from page three

Continued from page three
hand-to-hand battle now. The rifle
/ had slid on down the hillside, to be
caught in a clump of brush twenty
feet below. Dan called on every ounce
of his strength because he knew what
mercy he might expect If Cranston
mastered him. The battles Of the
mountains were battles to the death.
They flung back and forth. wrench
ing shoulders. lashing fists. teeth and
feet and fingers. There were no Mar
luis of Queensberry rules in this bat
tie. Again and again Dan sent home
his blows: but they all seemed inef-
fective. By now Cranston had COM
pletely overcome the moments advan-
tage the other had obtained by the
power of his leap. He hurled Dan
from the clinch and lashed at him
with hard fists.
1t is very common thing to hear
of a silent fight. But II is really
more rare occurrence than most peo-
pie believe. 1t is true that serpents
will often fight in the strangest. most
eerie silence; hut human beings are
not serpents. They partake more of
the qualities of the meat-eaters-the
wolves and felines. After the first
instant. the noise of the fight aroused
the whole hillside. The sound of blows
was in itself notable. and besides. both
Of the men were bowling the prim-
ordial battle cries of hatred and ven
geance.
For two long minutes Dan fought
with the strength of desperation. sum-
moning at last all that mysterious re-
serve force with which all men are
born. But he was playing a losing
game. The malady with which he had
suffered had taken too much of his
vigor. Even as he struggled. 1t seemed
to him that the vista about him. the
dark pines, the colored leaves of the
perennial shrubbery, the yellow path
were all obscured in a strange, white
mist. great wind roared in his ears
and his heart was evidently about
to shiver to pieces.
But still he fought on, not daring to
yield. He could no longer parry Grams
toms blows. The latter's arms went
around him in one of those deadly
holds that wrestlers know; and Dan
struggled in vain to free himself.
Cranston's face itself seemed hideous
and unreal in the mist that was creep
ing over him. He did not recognize
the curious humping sound as Grams
toms fists on his flesh. And now
Cranston had hurled him off his feet.
Nothing mattered further. He had
fought the best he could This cruel
beast could pounce on him at will
and hammer away his life. But still
he struggled. Except for the constant
play of his muscles, his almost un-
conscious effort to free himself that
kept one of Cranston's arms busy
holding him down. that fight on the
mountain path might have come to
sudden end. Human bodies can stand
a terrific punishment; but Dams was
weakened from the ravages of his
disease. Besides, Cranston would soon
have both hands and both feet free for
the work. and when these four ter
rible weapons are used at once, the
issue-soon or late-can never be in
doubt.
But even now. consciousness still
fingered. Dan could hear his enemy's
curses-and far up the trail, he heard
another. stranger sound. 1t sounded
like some one running.
And then he dimly knew that Gran
ston was climbing from his body.
Voices were speaking-quick, COM
manding voices just over him. Above
Cranston's savage curses another voice
rang clear, and to Dams ears. glorious
beyond all human utterance.
He opened his tortured eyes. The
mists lifted from in front of them, and
the whole drama was revealed. 1t had
not been sudden mercy that had driven
Cranston from his body, just when his
Victims falling unconsciousness would
have put him completely in his power.
Rather 1t was something black and
ominous that even now was pointed
squarely at Cranston's breast.
None too soon. ranger of the hill
had heard the sounds of the struggle,
and had left the trysting place at the
spring to come to Dams aid. 1t was
Snowbird. very pale but wholly self
sufficient and determined and intent.
Her pistol was cooked and ready.
(To he continued)