The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-04-10
By
Victor Rousseau
,Ivp, right by w. q. Chapman.)
wNU Service.

the encounter III tile tuuHei, lOOheu
impassively into his. Lee struck, and
| quickly discovered that he had not
strength enough left to administer a
knockout blow; while at close quarters
he was decidedly at disadvantage.
On the other hand his opponent was
equally unable to overcome him, for
he could not stand up against Lees
fists at short range long enough to
allow him time to get the gripping
power of those shoulders into action.
At last, bleeding and bruised, they
broke off the fight simultaneously, and
lay size by side, painting, upon the bot
tom Of the gorge.
Lee took stock of the other. The
man looked like an Indian, but there
was touch of the Caucasian in him.
Lee addressed him for the first time.
"What is it that you want? Why
have you attacked me?"
The answer-Lee had hardly ex-
pected that there would be an an
swer-was I'm tone singularly soft, in
credibly at variance with the appear
ance of that gross body.
you find the way in. But you
never find the way out. You fight me
and l fight you. You sit down here so
and / sit down here beside you so.
When you fight / fight. and when you
stop / stop, and so we wait until you
sleep. And then lie grand mort come"
This devilish conception made Lees
blood run cold. For even now his eye
lids were MISUNDERSTANDING, and the
other watched with cunning eyes.
/ He tried to find strength to leap.
rend him with teeth and nails If his
bruised fists and weakened arms
failed him. But the other, reading
what passed in his mind. crouched,
ready for him.
Lee shot an arrow at venture. lie
boeufr' he said softly.
The other started. "Eh, you have
learn my name? That makes no diff
ference"
why do you wish to kill me, Lee
! boeuf?S Is 1t that you think l have
come here to seize the mine?"
Listen, then. Iswore to my master
before he died that no one shall take
the gold away. Therefore, since you
have found the way into the tunnel,
you shall never leave it."
Suppose l am a friend?"
mo, no friend. You have cone for
the gold. You came to seize my mas
ter, who is dead, to take his gold
away. There he lies dead and he has
come to me in dreams and told me he
must not be buried till Mam'Zelle
Joyce has got the gold. All, you shall
never have his gold"
Listen, Leboeuf! Miss Joyce and
| love each other"
mo. no, you are lying, and, besides.
! il would make no difference. Did
not hear her in the house, telling you,
Co. Cor No, you shall never take
her gold" /.
Lee desisted from sheer weariness
He strove desperately in his mind,
trying to find some way by which he
could convince this madman-but his
eyelids closed, and suddenly, with a
snarl, Leboeuf was upon him, his fin
gers twining around his throat.
Lee shook himself free. He sprang
at him, the last of his waning strength
put forth. They clinched, they fought,
Lees fists beat against the bruised
| face, drawing fresh blood. Leboeuf
released him, but springing to dis
lance, began hurting stones at him,
cursing him.
Then he sat down and waited.
Lee must stay awake till nightfall.
He would find some way out of the
gorge. He would cut footsteps in the
granite with a Stone-wild and impos-
sible thoughts ran through his mind.
He strobe to and fro beside the river
bank.
Some little distance away Leboeuf
sat watching him. Lees hatred for
that bruised, impassive face was ele-
mental. He flung stone. The aim
was true; it cut Leboeuf's lip open.
Blood began to drip, but Leboeuf
never stirred.
Lee sat down. He must conserve
his strength-he started, up. He had
slept for moment, and Leboeuf was
creeping toward him. The sun blaZed
over the edge of the gorge.
A moment later Leboeuf was almost
at his side, yet he was not conscious
of his having moved, or of having
closed his eyes. He got up wear
ily, picked up stone, and flung it into
Leboeuf's face, gashing his cheek.
Leboeuf never moved.
Lee looked about him for a larger
stone.
He was lying upon his back, and Lee
| boeuf was kneeling on him gripping
his throat. He tried to struggle. The
why fingers ripped the tatters IF his
shirt away.
Next moment cry broke from Lee
boeufs lips. He was lingering the
coils of Joyce's hair. He knew them,
chung TO them.
He fell upon his knees. Monsieur.
ii is hers! Forgive! Forgive! am
an old fool So among my people the
maidens give their hair DIS tokens of
love. All, Monsieur, Monsieur-see,
| will show you the entrance, and you
shall take the gold for her. So my
master spoke in a dream-but did
not know you!
And, darting from Lees side, he
scrambled straight up the face of the
cliff between the saplings. He dragged
away stone, fitting so closely into
the Turner's mouth that Lee had never
guessed it had been placed there.
And, with a mournful cry, Leboeuf
disappeared within the tunnel.
Lee staggered to the cliff beneath
it, tried TO ascend. dropped back, and