Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-02-26
CHAPTER X-Continued


Lee saw that from the point where
he was clinging, there appeared to be
fairly easy descent to the bottom
1t was only the upper parts of the cliffs
in the gorge that were unscalable
But he could go no further now
Anxiety for Joyce was rising in him
He was half afraid she might dc
something rash.
In some way Railway seemed to be
associated with Pelly; perhaps he was
protecting him. Suppose, then, that
the girl had gone back to the Free
Traders headquarters on Siston lake,
Or fed into the storm in her frenzy?
Suppose they had been followed
Lee remembered his fancy that he had
seen an Indian watching them. The
Free Traders would surely have been
watching the trail at either end of the
lake, knowing that sooner or later they
must emerge out of the forests.
Then he remembered the shadow In
the log house, and this specter in
which he had disbelieved, now began
to assume in his mind formidable
aspect.
Suddenly, as Lee clung there, he
heard a rumbling sound above hin
head, and a moment later something
hurtled past it and smashed upon the
ground of the chasm. Looking down.
Lee saw the fragments Of an enor-
nous boulder lying on the ground i'm
mediately beneath him.
He had had narrow escape, And
reluctantly he turned to re-enter the
tunnel. But before he had thrust his
head and shoulders in, there came an
other rumble. And this time 1t was
only the little projecting ledge above
his head that saved his life.
The boulder struck the edge of 1t
shot out into the air, and, just missing
him, smashed to pieces below.
Lee looked up, but the overhanging
cliffs shut out the view of everything
except the overhanging bushes and the
sky.
Whether or not human agency was
responsible for the fall Of the two
boulders, it was certain that the tun
nels mouth did not appear to be 9
particularly healthy spot at that mo
ment.
And Lee forced his head and shoul
ders through, and CROPPED for the rock
ladder within, bruising his thighs and
shins against the edges of the open
ings Extending his hands, he felt the
smooth surface Of the water-worn, in
terror wall. He grasped the ladder
chung to it, pulled himself up, anG
found his footing.
And then of sudden Lee had the
unmistakable instinct that he was no,
alone There was another living thina
within the tunnel!
Though it was absolutely dark, ex
cept for the faintest reflection from
the interior of the gorge, which filtered
up from below, and though Lee coulc
not hear the faintest sound, he felt Its
presence by some inner sense that
was not hearing, he felt the rhythmica
pulsations Of it's life.
And it was a human being Lee fell
the fog of human hatred flung out to
WhTu It'll. TIC huCW lllk
imminence Of an encounter under con
ditions more nerve-racking than any
he had ever experienced. He knew
for sure now that the fall of the two
boulders had been no accident.
He had been watched, he had beer
seen to enter, and that watcher meant
to fight him to the death. And Of
course it was Pelly!
He did not relish the prospect of {
struggle with the crazed old man, one
which could hardly end in any Other
way than by the death of one Of
them. 1t would be a sharp, relent
less struggle, in which Lees disadvan
tage lay in the fact that he could mo-
be the first to fire.
Lee called: us that you, Pelly?
want to talk to you"
No answer came. He strained hi
eyes upward through the darkness
Colors and wheels of light flashed
across his vision and went out
"Pelly, listen to me-" Lee tried
again. 'You know what I've com'
for. You've got no chance. Surren
der, and you'll get fair treatment"
still no answer; and yet Lee coult