The Ely miner., 1925-02-27
CHAPTER V-Continued


Satisfying himself that there was no
way of approach except by water, un-
less there existed some trail across the
swamps, which there was no time TO
find, 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 diagonaIly against the cur
rent, in few minutes Lee had reached
the fiat terrain at the base of the
promontory.
He waded ashore, shaking himself
like 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 it the
accumulation of long period.
Looking through the mist, Lee per-
ceived 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-
fense.
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-
mountable 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, beaching the boat across
the water somewhere, taking to the
forests.
And without hesitation he took to
the water again and swan with steady
strokes toward it. In two or three
minutes he had gained it's 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
a 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
a few drops glistened upon the surface
of the weapon.
Scrambling up the activity, Lee
saw the two huts among the trees i'm
medlately overhead. He scrambled up
the low wall of rocks, and was about
to step on to the elevation when of a
sudden a man came out of the farther
hut and made his way toward the
nearer one.
Lee ducked his head down just in
tirBe 10 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
untrimmed black beard, he walked
with hunched shoulders, and there
was look of singular ferocity and
cunning on his face.
A dangerous, treacherous customer
Lee thought Rathway
When he had disappeared within
the hut Lee stood up. Craning over
the rocks. he could just catch a
glimpse of the interior. He saw the
man standing over what looked like
a camp bed, on which he could dis.
tinguish the head. and shoulders of q
girl. lying perfectly still
Lees heart leaped. He gripped his
automatic. Ievelled 1T.
A single shot from where he stood
well aimed. would be sufficient.
And at that moment instinct and de-
sire struggled with discipline as never
before. with the maxim inculcated dur
ing his eight years of service, never
TO take life except when life is In inn
mediate danger.
Then discipline won. Lee let the
muzzle drop.
And at that moment he heard the
growing voice of the man, and the an
swer of third person inside the hut
woman.
The words were inaudible, and now
hesisufing no longer, Lee scrambled
ever the rocky ridge and made his way
toward the door obliquely. so as to re,