The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-07-08

suuuen Lee knew that Joyce was ais
his' In Life and death, for evermore
She saw, Sic knew him, and theft
spirits seemed to rush together acrosa
the waters.
dian put their horses into the river
Ihey drove the frightened beasts
through the ice-cold water, making q
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 a wild e1hila-
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 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 II drove into Its place with
force that fixed 1t as firmly as If II
were a part of the rocks themselves,
and chung there, with swirl Of white
water around it, 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 he
approached, himself spinning upon his
whirling mount like 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
firm as a wedge. And now the great
shoulders of the old Indian were drag
ging his enemy from his place.
What Leboeuf said to PATHWAY In
those last moments no one ever knew,
for the roar of the rapids drowned all
other sound. But of sudden Rath-
ways resistance seemed to cease. Per
haps in Leboeuf he recognized the ad-
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
in the surge of the rapids that
swept them through the falls, grind
ing them into unacceptable pulp
among the rocks.
Lee grasped at the boat as his horse
swept by to its destruction. He
chung there, clambered in. His arms
we're about Joyce. She lay there,
and they forgot everything in the
peace that had descended under the
7eil of the smoking spray.
hnfnro fhor EQnod
o realities. They looked about them.
smiling at their position. Death
seemed so small thing to them, now.
And yet, the boon of life . how
much II meant
Lee crept to the bow. The boat.
nevertheless being constantly swept
idewise by the swirl of the current.
lie came back to Joyce.
"If could dislodge her, 1 believe
he'd go through that channel in the
apids, Joyce I'm have to try"
Joyce sighed. They would have
liked to prolong that happiness OF
heirs for all eternity. They were IN
onscious of all but each other.
But they must put their love to
he last test of life. Lees clothes
vere freezing on him; in the boat
ERE packs, supplies-life, life for both
f them if she could take the rapids.
"I'll try, Joyce"
They held each other for a moment |
1nger. Then. taking the oar, Lee |
rove the handle into the gap between |
ne rocks and levered with all his
trength. The boat began to give.
One instant 1t hung giddily on the
byss; the next 1t was back In
osltion.
lie down, Joycew
And he flung all his strength into
lat attempt, conscious that life and
cath trembled in the balance.
The boat gave. chung to the rock,
as swept sidewise, righted herself
nd plunged down the channel to
lfety in the calm waters below.
Lee. dearest, It's from Father Nc
rath. He wants us to come up to
e settlement this summer. He's got