The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-05-22
Che Free Traders
By DICTOR ROUSSEAU
tcopyrisht by W. q. Chapman,

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 a little
In front of him. And a wild exhila-
ration filled 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 m
tarily as it drove them toward the
rocks. They were hardly a boats
length from where Pathway was
striving desperately to right the motor
craft.
He was too late. He had not cal
culated OF the force Of the current,
which Slowed the heavy boat around,
in spite Of Railways strongest eff
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 it drove into its place with a
force that fixed 1t as firmly as II 1t
were a part Of the rocks themselves,
and chung there, with a 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. Nis free hand he
extended menacingly toward Lee as he
approached, himself spinning upon his
whirling mount like a straw in the
torrent. \
Then Leboeuf had struggled from
his horses back, poised himself upon
the gunwale of the motor boat, and.
with a below Of rage seized Rath-
way by the throat.
To and fro they rocked, the boat,
despite their struggles, remaining
uIHl DIS u WSuSe. ALL INV thC EICot
shoulders of the old Indian were drag
ging his enemy from his place.
What Leboeuf said to Railway In
those last moments no n ever knew,
for the roar of the rapids drowned all
other sound. But Of a sudden Rath-
ways resistance seemed to cease. Per-
haps in Leboeuf he recognized the adj
vent of that Nemesis he had defied;
he collapsed, and Leboeuf, holding
him in his arms, poised himself one
instant on the gunwale.
The next both men had disappeared
forever In the surge of the rapids that
swept them through the falls, grind
among the rocks.
Lee grasped at the boat as his horse
swept by to its destruction. He
chung there, clambered in. His arms
were about Joyce. She lay there,
and they forgot everything in the
peace that had descended under the
veil of the smoking spray.
1t was long before they awakened
to realities. They looked about them,
smiling at their position. Death
seemed so small a thing to them, now.
And yet, the boon of life -. how
much it meant!
Lee crept to the bow. The boat,
wedged firmly between the rocks, was
nevertheless being constantly swept
| sidewise by the swirl of the current.
He came back to Joyce.
eff I could dislodge her, / believe
she'd go through hat channel in the
rapids, Joyce. I'm have to try"
Joyce sighed. They would have
liked to prolong that happiness of
theirs for all eternity. They were I'M
conscious of all but each other.
But they must put their love to
the last test of life. Lees clothes
were freezing on him; in the boat
were packs, supplies-life, life for both
of them if she could take the rapids.
"Tn try, Joyce"
They held each other for a moment
longer. Then. taking the oar, Lee
drove the handle into the gap between
the rocks and levered with all his
strength. The boat began to give.
One instant it hung giddily on the
abyss; the next it was back in
position.
"Lie down, Joycep
And he flung all his strength into
that attempt, conscious that life and
death trembled in the balance.
The BOAT gave, chung to the rock,
was swept sidewise. righted herself
and plunged down the channel to
safety in the calm waters below.
"Iee, dearest, it's from Father Nc
| Grath. He wants US to come up to
the settlement this summer. He's got
proud as Punch over them. And Es-
telle-"
She hesitated and looked at Lee.
go onl"
"Estelle's simply devoted to the
children and she's taken up my work
with so much pleasure. He says she
seems quite happy and he believes In
time that she'll forget-him."
"I might get leave of absence" Lee
unused. "But with that promise of my
commission and our transfer think
perhaps our visit will have to wait"
"Some day" Joyce suggested.
They wondered If that day would
ever come. At times a longing for the
range came over them for those scenes
where they had met and loved. But
mingled with 1t were those memories
+bot thev had mt ont of their lives