Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-07-10
CHAPTER XXI
Retribution

The cold rage In Lees heart was
like an inexorable demon driving him.
Mile after mile they covered, urging
their foam-fecked horses along the
trail as remorselessly as the resolve in
their own hearts drove them.
1t was when they topped bare ele-
walton among the pines that Leboeuf
touched his companions arm and
pointed.
In the distance Lee saw the motor
boat drawn up on the shore.
And with that, some instinct told
him that Railway could not escape
them, that he would never reach Lake
Misquash. Lee burned now with the
same faith that animated Leboeuf.
They drove their horses on, and saw
the motor boat depart, heard the chug
of It's engine die away in the distance.
They neither Quickened their pace
nor slackened 1t for that.
1t was about the middle of the after
noon that Leboeuf touched Lees arm
and pointed a second time. Again Lee
saw the motor boat Again they heard
the rattle Of the engine swell up and
die away.
But now, by the same faith, Lee
knew that Joyce's deliverance was
very near, although their horses were
wearied almost to death.
Again they rode on through the
afternoon. The Indian, who had not
spoken word since their departure,
touched Lees arm a third time
And now Lee saw the motor boat
again, but it was drifting. apparently
aimlessly, In the river, and moving
slowly toward the rapids Joyce sat
in the middle Of 1t, and Railway was
at the engine. Lee and Leboeuf rode
cruelty drawing out their horses last
reserve Of strength.
What was the man doing? They
saw him rise and hurl something into
the water. He stood up In the boat,
he shook his fist at them, and his
yells of defiance reached their ears
above the roar Of the stream.
Then, seizing an oar. Railway be-
gan padding frantically, in the en-
deayor to get the boat bow on prepara-
tory to guiding her down the narrow
course among the rocks.
Lee and Leboeuf were nearly
abreast Of the boat now-and Of a
sudden Lee Knew that Joyce was hia
his, IN lie ana Qeatn, Tor eVermOre
She saw, she knew him, and their
spirits seemed to rush together across
the waters.
Without hesitation Lee and the In
dian put their horses into the river.
They drove the frightened beasts
through the ice-cold water, making a
course Immediately toward the boat,
which was now being swirled by the
torrent toward that black chain of
projecting rocks.
The horses yielded to the force of
the stream. They were being carried
away. Lee felt the swift rush of the
water past him as he rode, submerged
to the waist. He saw Leboeuf little
In front Of him. And wild exhila-
ration filed his heart, and his whole
personality seemed to rush out before
him, anticipating his vengeance and
his love.
The frightened. snorting beasts
were now helpless in the rush of the
river, which gathered force momen-
tarily as 1t drove them toward the
rocks. They were hardly a boats
length from where Railway was
striving desperately to right the motor
craft
He was too late. He had not cal
culated on the force Of the current,
which slowed the heavy boat around,
in spite of Railways strongest ef-
forts. One moment of suspense and
terror-and the motor boat wedged
itself fairly between two outstanding
rocks beside the channels mouth.
Such was the velocity Of the stream
that 1t drove into Its place with q
force that fixed 1t as firmly as II 1t
were a part Of the rocks themselves,
and clung there. with q swirl Of white
water around 1t. reaching almost TO
the gunwales.
In those last moments Lee saw
Railway. standing in the boat, drag
Joyce to her feet and clutch her to
him, as If resolved to be united with
her at the last. His free hand he
extended menacingly toward Lee as ne
approached. himself spinning upon his
whirling mount like a straw IN the
torrent.
Then Leboeuf had struggled from
his AeEss's back poised himself upon