Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-04-19

gun In mana, ne staggered toward the
bridge of lava. Before he had crossed
it Yaqui came bounding down the
slope, and in one splendid leap he
cleared the assure. He ran beyond
the trail and disappeared on the lava
above. Rojas had not seen this sud
den, darting move of the Indian.
Gale wondered, fearfully, what had
become of Lash. Presently, when
Rojas came out of the cracks and
ruts of lava there might be chance
of disabling him by a long shot. His
progress was now slow But he was
making straight for Mercedes hiding
place. What was it leading him there
An eagle eye, or hate, or instinct?
why did he go on when there could
be no turning back for him Oh that
trail? Laid was slow, heavy, stag
ger1ng on the trail; bGt he was re-
lentless. Only death could stop the
ranger now. Surely Rojas must have
known that when he chose the trail.
From time to time Gale caught
glimpses Of Yaqui's dark figure steal
ing along the higher rim of the crater.
He was making for a point above the
bandit
Ladd staggered along the trail; at
times he craWled. The Yaqui gained;
he might have had wings; he leaped
from jagged crust to jagged crust; his
sure-footedness was a wonderful thing.
But for Gale the marvel of that
endless period of watching was the
purpose of the bandit Rojas. He had
now no weapon. Gales glass made
this fact plain There was death be-
hind him, death below him, de tn be-
fore him, and though he could not
have known it, death above him. He
never faltered-never made 1nfsstep
upon the narrow, flinty trail. When he
reached the lower end Of the level
ledge Gales poignant doubt became
certainty. Rojas had seen Mercedes.
1t was incredible, yet Gale believed it.
Then, his heart cIamped as in an icy
wise, Gale threw forward the Reming-
ton and sinking on one knee, began
to shoot. He emptied the magazine.
Puffs of dust near Rojas did not even
make him turn.
Gale wheeled, rigid now, steeling
himself to one last forlorn hope-that
Mercedes could defend herself. She
had a gun. He doubted not at all that
she would use it. But, remembering
her terror of this savage, he feared
for her. Rojas reached the level of
the ledge. He halted. He crouched.
1t was the act of a panther. Mani
testify he saw Mercedes within the
cave. Then faint shots patted the air,
broke in quick echo. Rojas went
down as if struck by heavy blow.
He was hit. But even as Gale yelled
in sheer madness the bandit leaped
erect. He seemed too quick, too sup
pie to be badly wounded. A slight,
dark figure flashed out of the cave.
Mercedes She backed against the
wall. Gale saw puff of white
heard a report. But the bandit
lunged at her. Mercedes ran, not to
try to pass him, but straight for the
precipice. Her intention was plain.
But Rojas outstripped her, even as
she reached the verge. Then a pierre
ing scream pealed across the crater
a scream of despair
Gale closed his eyes. He could not
bear to see more.
Thorne echoed Mercedes scream.
Gale looked round just in time to leap
and catch the cavalryman as he stag
gered, apparently for the steep slope.
And then, as Gale dragged him back,
both fell Gale saved his friend, but
he plunged into a choya. He drew
his hands away full of the great glis-
tening cones of thorns.
"For Gods sake, Gale, shoot
Shoot! Kill her Kill her! :.
Can't-you-see -Rojas-"
Thorne tainted
Gale. stunned for the instant, stood
with uplifted hands, and gazed from
Thorne across the crater. Rojas had
not killed Mercedes. He was over
towering her. His actions seemed
slow, wearing, purposeful. Hers were
violent. Lake trapped she-wolf,
Mercedes was fighting. She tore,
struggled, flung herself.
Ii III.
In agony now, both mental and
physical, cold and sick and weak, Gale
gripped his rife and aimed at the
struggling forms on the ledge. He
pulled the trigger. The bullet struck
up a cloud of red dust close to the
struggling couple. Again Gale fired,
hoping to hit Rojas, praying to kill
Mercedes. The bullet struck high. A
INSTRUMENTATION time the Reming-
ton SPOKEN vain The rifle fell from
Gales racked hands.
How horribly plain that tends in
tention! Gale tried to close lis eyes,
but could not. He prayed wildly for
a sudden blindness-to faint as Thorne
had tainted. But he was transixed to
the spot with eyes that pierced the
red light.
Mercedes was growing weaker,
seemed about to collapse.
"Oh, Jim Lash, are you deadg cried
Gale. "Oh, Laddy! -. Oh Yaqui y
Suddenly a. dark form literally fell
down the wall behind the ledge where
Rojas fought the girl. 1t sank in a
heap, then bounded erect.
'Yaqui!' screamed Gale, and he
waived his bleeding hands till the
blood despatched his face. Then he
choked. Utterance became impossible.
The Indian bent over ~ojec- and