The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-03-06

feeling secure in their numbers. the,
Bleaching the boats or leaving then
anchored under the single guard in the
middle channel.
About half an hour after dark ht
set out on his Investigations. HI
moved through the brush as softly as
any Indian. and, booted though he was
hardly twig cracked under his feet
Making his way toward the central
portion. where the trees were sparser
and the ground undulating. he soon
discovered what he was looking for
the distant glow of camp fire.
Four men were seated around the
fire, drinking and conversing loudly,
1t was impossible to make out their
faces in the darkness, bu. Lee waited
patiently until the light of the fire
fell upon each, and ascertained that
none of them was bearded.
Railway, then, was either in charge
of the motor boat, with the sixth man.
or had been forced to return to his
headquarters, owing to his condition.
Lee circled the camp, and dis
covered. to his joy. the York boat.
beached on the shore about twenty
five yards distant. The men had not
troubled TO draw it up on birch rollers,
where it would have been matter of
time and labor to float it again; it
lay with its keel in the mud, careening
to the lap of the little waves.
Lee cogitated. If the men got drunk
that night, il might be possible to make
off with the boat without arousing
them. On the other hand the prob
abilities were that through fear OF
Railway they would stay sober
enough TO guard it effectively. And
the delay was telling upon his nerves.
He decided that at all cost 1t was
necessary to make the attempt as
quickly as possible.
He made his way back to the girl,
strapped the pack on his back, and,
taking her in his arms, began to APP
preach the encampment by circuitous
route through the trees.
In the darkness, staggering over the
uneven ground, and loaded as he was,
the task was an all but impossible one.
But. added TO this. the girl awakened
and began talking disjointedly, some
times crying out in fear. 1t was al
most impossible to quiet her.
She chung TO him, moaning. For
whole hour he tried to assuage her
terrOrs, until at last she dropped
asleep again from weakness and weari
ness.
Once more Lee took up his task.
Now the campfire came into view. The
four men were still visible about it.
and quarreling; they were
drunk, but not drunk enough to rem
der escape without a fight possible.
Creeping, almost inch by inch, to the
of raspberry brambles. Lee
It down to the waters edge
and laid the girl down. He looked at
her apprehensively fer moment, but
her eyes were closed in sleep and her
breathing was soft and regular.
Then cOolly Lee stepped out into the
open space and made his way toward |
he group.
He was within FIVE and twenty yards |
If them before they perceived him. and |
hen they seemed TO take him for one
If their party. Lees impressions were |
IF confused shouting and challenging. |
His GOODNESS disconnected and bewild- |
cred them; he was almost upon them
before Pierre recognized him.
"By gar, it's dat d-n four
1usher p he shouted
And en- the instant Lee was into the |
.hick of them. A tall ruffian graspeG |
4 rifle and rushed at him. Lee fired. |
The man, shot through the hand, |
cropped the rifle, and. uttering howl
If pain, took to his heels in the under |
growth.
A second man was aiming at him. |
Lee brought the butt of his pistol |
Town upon his head, and the man,
in a mumbling heap. lay |
lace upward upon the ground. Shorty |
vas pulling desperately at gun. Lee |
swung at him, missed his skull, but |
knocked him sidewise with blow
hat laid his cheek open to the bone.
Shorty dropped and lay still.
Pierre, who had made no movement |
If aggression, was staring at Lee
stupidity.
Hands up, d-n you'll" Lee shouted.
Pierre's arms went up to their full |
height Lee frisked him, took his
run, took Shorty's and the third mans,
md tossed them into the underground /
is far as he could fling them He /
stopped and picked up the rifle that
he first man had dropped. And,
within a few seconds Of the opening
Melee, Lee found himself, by virtue
# the surprise, master of the situation.
But there was no time to be lost,
or the tall ruffian who had fled was
rowling somewhere along the shore.
md all depended upon the nearness of
he motor boat. Lee, covering Pierre,
'acked quietly to the place where he
lad laid the girl. He picked her up
md ran toward the boat with her.
Instantly Pierre's figure was blotted
nut in the darkness.
Lee had set down the rifle when he
licked up the girl; he placed her In
he bottom of the boat, ran back and
ound it and threw it inside, together
With the pack from his shoulders. He
aised the heavy anchor. He threw all
lis weight against the boat, which re-
eded in trail of viscous mud until
was afioat. Lee leaped in. seized
he oars. fired another shot in warn
ng. All the while the wounded man
ras bowling along the shore.
Lee pushed desperately with the