The Ely miner., 1925-02-27
CHAPTER WI
Trapped on the Island

And instantly he began straining al
the oars again, redoubling his efforts
to gain the shore before the motor
boat rounded the point.
And of a sudden his attention was
attracted by something creeping
along the opposite shore 1t was q
small canoe and single man in 1t
Rathwayi
1t was impossible not to admire the
courage that inspired the man after
the drubbing he had received Rath-
way was, of course, on his way to
warn the expected party.
Lee drove hard for the left middle
channel of the lake. The main
body of Slston lake came into view, a
vast expanse of shining water, the
shores receding into the hazy distance.
out of which a small, black object be-
gan to be visible, like bug skimming
the surface.
Now the canoe containing Railway
was almost abreast of him.
A few more furious puIls-ten fif-
teen; now canoe and motor boat and
promontory were all hidden behind
the point of the island Lee labored at
the oars, turning the York boats head
toward the bank. Once there, they
would be safe. But his strength was
failing him. Curse the clumsy boat,
which hardly seemed to move!
The putting of the motor engine had
grown Internally loud. 1t added a
horror of it's own to that sense of pur-
suit which makes the bravest man
something of coward, the added hor-
ror of the fugitive who hears the dis
tant bay of blOodhounds.
Then suddenly the motor stopped
That meant that the canoe had come
abreast of it. Railway was passing
the intelligence. And the shore was
still hundred yards distant.
There was no chance of reaching ii
unobserved. 1t would be neck and
neck for it, and it was doubtful
whether Lee could have escaped alone,
much less with the girl and the pack
10 carry. He swung the boats blunt
nose toward the nearest patch of
reeds. Twenty yards! He put all his
reeds were closing about him. In
front of him a little open channel ap-
peared. Using one shortened oar as a
paddle, he drove vigorously, and found
himself in temporary safety. A thick
wall of reeds extended between him.
h.,
York boat invisible.
Then the motor began to roar The
shouts of its occupants became audible.
The motor boat had rounded the point.
Lee had escaped discovery by the
skin of his teeth.
And very cautiously, so as not to
betray his whereabouts by any un-
due agitation of the reeds, Lee pushed
the boat toward the island. His plan
must now be to drive ashore, trusting
to escape detection until nightfall and
to make the wooded shore of the lake
In the darkness.
Through the reeds the marshy fore
shore began to be visible, and sandy
spit projecting to the waters edge.
Above 1t was a hummock overgrown
with birch and red spruce, with a
tangle of sheep laurel and birch and
poplar behind it.
Lee worked his heavy boat noise
lessly toward this spit. But suddenly
he stopped. The motor boat was COM
ing up the open channel hardly a
stones throw distant. He could hear
Railway in it, believing commands to
his companions. He could hear the
reeds rustling against the boats side
as she forced her passage through
them.
They're not in herei" he heard
Pathway say with an oath. Get into
the channel and beat up the island!"
Lee, crouching in the stern of the
York boat with his pistol In his hand,
breathed d sigh of relief as the motor
boat withdrew The roar of her en-
CINE began to grow fainter In few
minutes it had died away.
Lee forced the York boat ashore
upon the spit of sand. and stooping,
raised the girl in his arms and carried
her into the shelter of the spruce
thicket, where he laid her gently down.
For the first time since her injury,
he had the opportunity of examining
her. Her prolonged Inconsistencies
alarmed him.
But she was beginning to revive at
last, and, after assuring himself that
the pulse beat fairly strong, he pro-