The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-05-15
CHAPTER xVl-Continued.

" INV vi hic Dtilts 1a
Winton was fighting for Sheila-
Sheila, whom the next flash showed
standing, %Quivering with fear, upon the
opposite edge.
$50 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 no~thingness; he fell. dragging his
enemy after him.
With a convulsive effort he caught
at and chung 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
tons hands. Winton chung 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 a bone in his wrist splinter. BE
let n hand go, swinging out over the
chasm. De Witt, b~racing himself
against the wall, WIS 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
md 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 a scream that
echoed above the thunder he went
iiurtling down to death.
1t vas seconds before the distant
thud of the body upon the rocks be-
meath the gorge told Winton hat 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
then her head dropped on his
shoulder.
BY the next fash 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,
swarming up toward the en-
rance of the cave.
Winton measured the distance with
lis eyes and leaped. 1t was a terrific
for a man carrying an uncon-
;cious oma in his arms. lie tot
upon the opposite edge, but did
lot fall. The Hottentots were just
the ave Winton, %crouching
behind the ledge, saw them stare
ibout them in amazement
fIe say that the narrow orifice wild
ned behind him into a larger avern
IN enormous boulder, hanging from
lie roof, poised like a rocking-stone
lpon a smaller one, partly concealed
he approach. AT once an idea, born
f his desperate situation, came to
If he could dislodge the
tone he could effectively bar the Hot
from following him.
He set Sheila down and put his
boulder against the boulder. 1t
it rocked, it resumed its posi-
ion.
Another fiash-and he was seen.
the Hottentots rushed forward.
he foremost saw the chasm and hest
ated.
Then Winton, putting forth all his
shifted the stone.
1t fell, bringing down a shower of
from the roof of the cave. Win
III stumbled among the rafting
-cnes, and, catching up Sheila, stag
cred along the passage. But he
lrned as the succession of thunder
is crashes ceased, and waited for the
flash. None came, and he heard
Of the least sound from the Hotten-
IT'S behind him.
After a full minute Winton struck a
atch. To his amazement he saw, by
lie little light, that the passage behind
IN was completely obliterated. The
II of the tone had brought down !
miniature landslide. All traces of !
e entrance beneath the mountain |
Id vanished. No light, no sound !
'uld penetrate. d
Winton tried to strike another
But the box was damp, and l
e slight flame 6zzled out immedi- a
ely. He tried another and another '
ith like result.
He sat down quietly at Sheila's side. ?
tier. he thought YEARLY, he would
ell his way onward in the darkness. L