The Winslow mail., 1924-07-25
a1nO1ldS
Malopo
BY
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
oopyRloHr Ay VIC cnApmAn


showed De Witt standing ON the op-
posite brink, less than six feet dis
tant aiming at where Winton had
been.
With horror Winton saw that Sheila
stood in the line of fire. She was
standing motionless, staring after
Winton, horror and anguish on her
face. The sight of her peril electrified
Winton. He leaped into the darkness.
He heard the shot ring out, but his
onset had DETECTED his enemy's aim.
And this time he had De Witt in his
arms, pinioning the hand that held the
revolver.
On the brink of the abyss the two
fought for their lives.
They were so equally matched that
neither seemed able to bulge the
other. Each was nerved to the utmost
by the realization Of his peril. But
Winton was fighting for Sheila-
Sheila, whom the next flash showed
opposite edge.
"Go back !" Winton shouted to her.
Even the utterance meant some in
fnitesimal diminution in the concen-
tratiOn of his muscles and will. In an
instant he felt that De Witt had him
at an advantage. The Dutchman's
savage face was thrust into his own,
his breath was hot on his cheek. He
felt himself bend backward, he grasped
at nothingness; he fell, dragging his
enemy after him.
With a convulsive effort he caught
at and clung to the projecting ledge.
His feet felt for a hold De Witt,
who had evidently emptied his re-
volver, brought down the butt on Win
toms hands. Winton clung with des-
peration. Across the chasm he heard
Sheila screaming, and the lightning
flashes, which were almost continuous,
showed him her figure with hardly per-
ceptible intervals of darkness.
De Witt was leaning forward over
the chasm, his feet planted upon the
edge striving to detach Winton from
his perilous hold. Again and again
the revolver butt came down. Winton
heard bone in his wrist splinter. He
let one hand go, swinging out over the
chasm. De Witt, bracing himself
against the wall, was pushing with all
his strength.
Suddenly Winton remembered a
school trick. If he should let himself
go, De Wits own impetus would carry
him after him. Could he swing free
and catch the opposite bank in fall
ing?
He could hold on no longer. Open
ing his bruised hand, he plunged down.
ward and forward BY a miracle he
found the edge Of the chasm on the
outer side Of the cave. He swung
there dizzily. He drew himself up-
ward.
At the same instant he heard De
Witt fall forward The Dutchman
clawed at the rocks, missed them,
struck Winton: and with scream that
echoed above the thunder he went
hurting down to death.
1t was seconds before the distant
thud of the body upon the rocks be-
meath the gorge told WintOn that De
Witt would trouble Sheila no more.
Winton reached the cave, stood up,
and caught Sheila in his arms. She
was fainting, her lips sought his own
feebly; then her head dropped on his
shoulder.
BY the next flash of lightning Win
ton measured the gap. He could al
most straddle it; could he, bearing
Sheila make the leap? He hesitated.
Then. with wild yells, the Hotten-
tots, who had heard De Wits cry,
came swarming up toward the en-
trance of the cave
WintOn measured the distance with
his eyes and leaped. 1t was a terrific
jump for man carrying an uncon-
scious woman in his arms. He tot
tered upon the opposite edge, but did
not fall The Hottentots were just
entering the cave. Winton, crouching
behind the ledge, saw them stare
about them in amazement.
He saw that the narrow orifice wild
ened behind him into a larger cavern.
An enormous boulder, hanging from
the roof, poised like a rocking-stone
upon a smaller one, partly concealed
the approach. At once an idea, born
of his desperate situation, came to
WintOn. If he could dislodge the
stone he could effectively bar the Hot
tentots from following him.
He set Sheila down and put his
shoulder against the boulder. 1t
stirred, it rocked, it resumed its posi-
ton
Another f1ash-and he was seem
Yelling the Hottentots rushed forward.
The foremost saw the chasm and hesi-
tated.
Then Winton, putting forth all his
strength, shifted the stone.
Continued Next Week)