The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-04-15
CHAPTER V-Continued

Satisfying himself that there was no
way of approach except by water, I'M
less there existed some trail across the
swamps, which there was no time to
ind, Lee waded into the lake, then
SWAN.
The current ran strong; the shock
Of the icy water at first numbed. then
invigorated him. 1t cleared the doubts
and fears OF night from his brain.
Swimming diagonally against the cur
rent, in few minutes Lee had reached
the fiat terrain at the base Of the
promontory.
He waded ashore, shaking himself
Ike dog. On the terrain were heaped
great mounds of waste and garbage
from the encampment above; piles of
disintegrating cans, rotting cases, In
Vulnerable bottles partly covered with
the silt and protruding from 1t the
accumulation of long period
Looking through the mist, Lee per-
ceived a small York boat, of the kind
used universally between Hudson's bay
and the Mackenzie, riding moored
against the rocky edge of the promon-
tory some distance away.
The elevation, long. low, and fiat,
formed an ideal fortress; with the
only approach apparently by water, it
was evident that it would be formid-
able proposition for any body of the
police to attack, in the event Of de-
Tense
Lee began to make his way across
the terrain, keeping under the shelter
of the cliff to escape observation from
the huts above. 1t was growing light
now, and he could see the surround
ings clearly. He reached the end Of
the patch OF ground without coming
upon any place by which 1t might be
possible to ascend to the summit Of
the promontory.
He hurried back, doubling on his,
tracks, examining the cliff in the other
direction. He reached the other side
OF the fiat terrain. only to Ind that the
elevation presented the same insur-
mcuntabe flank to him everywhere.
~ But then Of sudden he realized
that the York boat must be drawn up
at the point of entrance. And 1t was
with this that he must make his flight
with the girl. Bleaching the boat across
the water somewhere, taking to the
forests
And without hesitation he took to
the water again and swan with steady
Ntrokes toward 1t. In two or three
minutes he had gained its side.
The kidnapers must have left their
horses at some refuge or rendezvous
in the forest and brought the girl by
boat to Siston lake.
And 1t was evident that they could
not have arrived so much as an hour
before. --------
The York boat was moored opposite |
Z cleft In the great dome Of the prom |
ontory. which offered easy access to |
the summit. Lee waded ashore once |
more. But before attempting the as |
cent he drew his automatic from its |
holster and examined it, The holster |
was lined with waterproof, and only
afew drops glistened upon the surface
Of the weapon.
Scramb!ing up the activity, Lee
saw the two huts among the trees i'm
mediately overhead. He scrambled up
the low wall Of rocks. and was abort
to step on to the elevation when of a
sudden man came out of the farther
hut and made his way toward the
nearer one. ~
Lee ducked his head down just In
time to escape detection, and through
the -interstices between the powders
he watched the man until he had en-
tered the hut Immediately above him
He looked about forty years Of age
He was shorter than Lee. but appar.
emily of great strength. He had an
black beard. he walked
with hunched shoulders, and there
was a look Of singular ferocity and
cunning on his face.
7. dangerous, treacherous customer.
Lee thought. Railway i
When he had disappeared within
the hut Lee stood up. Cranlng over
The rocks, he could just catch a
glimpse of the interior. He saw the
man standing over what looked like
/ camp bed, on which he. could dis
linguiSb the head and shoulders of a |
btrl,s lying perfectly still. t
Lees heart leaped. He grlpped his
ievelled It. II
~ single shot from where he stood,
Es,l aimed would be sufficient.