New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1922-01-02
TIE SWOWyHOE Trail
EDISON MARSHALL

dittle, Brown 4 Co and N L, \, seryice)


/ Virginia struggle TO shake loose from
the suddle, lie had but an iustant's
glimpse OF a white face In the gray
water OF hair that streamed. an in
stant's realization OF faint cry that
the waters obscufcd
He knew the terror OF that gray
whirlpool below. He had every rea-
son to believe that by no possible ef-
fort of his could he save the girl, he
would only throw away his own life
too.
Yet he was out OF the saddle almost
the instant that the waters cngulfed
her He sprang with his fun strength
into the stream.
On the bank the two men saw II as
in dream. They called out in their
impotence. and they ga2ed with hor-
ror- widened eyes. The waters swept
the struggling figures down the stream
and out of their sight,
Mulvaney. riderless, was battling
toward them through the torrent.
The storm recommended the wind
walled in the spruce tops, and the
snow sifted down into the gray wa
ters.
Bill Bronson had no realization of
the full might Of the stream until he
felt it around his body.
He swan with his eyes open. full
in the current, and with a really In
credible speed. And by the mercy OF
the forest gods almost at once he
caught a glimpse OF Nirginia's dark
.rcsses in the water.
The man seemed simply to leap
through the water. And In an in
slant more his arm went about her.
Give yourself to the current" he
shouted. And hang on to me-"
He knew this river. They were
Just entering upon a stretch of water
dreaded Of old by the rivermen that
had sometimes piled down the stream
in their fur-laden canoes--a place of
Jagged rocks and crags and powders.
Even in the shadow of death she |
was aware Of the strong wrench of
his muscles as he swan, the saving |
might Of his powerful frame. She
knew that he was not afraid for him
SELF but only for her
Up to now she had not entered into
comradeship with this man. She had |
held herself on a different plane.
But he was a comrade now; no
matter the outcome, even if they |
should find only inhospitable Death at
the end Of their trail. this relation
ship could never be destroyed.
IF l let go Of you, can you hang |
on to my shoulder he asked her.
Yes
Then put your hand on my Shout
shore.
Her fingers locked in the cloth of !
his shirt. And he began, a little at a |
time, to cross the sixty feet of wild |
water between them and the shore.
He had never been put to a greater |
test. Every ounce Of his strength was
ne\led. He was heavily clothed and
5hod, and the girl, exhausted, was
scarcely able to give aid at all. More
than once he felt himself weakening.
But the river gods were merciful,
after all. jack pine had fallen on
The shore, and its green spire, still
clothed with needles, lay half-sub-
merged, forty feet out into the stream.
Bills arm encountered it, then
5natched at it in a final, spasmodic
impulse of his muscles. And his grip
lcld fast.
Hang on" he breathed. only a
more"
He drew himself and the girl up
III the slender trunk, then crawled
llong it toward the shore. Now they
we're half out of the water. And in
/ moment later they both felt the
liver bottom against their knees.
He drew her to the bank, staggered
md fell, and for a moment both of
hem lay lifeless to the soft caress
If the snow. But Bill did not dare
ose consciousness. He was fully
lware that the fight was only half
Won.
Get off your clothes" he COM
handed; you're soaked through
nd I'll wiring 'em out. If ] don't you
ant live to get to the cabin. Your
tockings first
The thought of disobedience did not
Ven come to her.
Rub your skin swiftly with your
ands," he went on. above all things
eep the blood going in your veins, S
tub as hard as you cam s
Already she had tossed him her !,
renched stockings and he was
ringing them in his strong hands.
he rubbed her legs dry with her
aims, and put the stockings back on.
hen she threw off her coats and
1ting suit, and he wrung them as
nv as he could. Then quickly she
ressed again.
"NOw--faSt as you can walk toward
,e cabin Were across the river,
III know"
(CoDfinuef1 in Orr Next ISSle),