The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-05-13
CHAPTER X-Continued

Lee saw that from the point where
ne was clinging, there appeared to be
fairly easy descent to the bottom.
IL was only the upper parts of the cliffs
In the gorge that were unscalable.
out ne could go no further now.
anxiety for Joyce was rising In him.
he was half afraid she might do
something rash.
In some way Railway seemed to be
associated with Pely perhaps he was
protecting him. Suppose, then, that
the girl had gone back to the Free
traders headquarters on Siston lake?
or he'd into the storm In her frenzy?
Suppose they had been followed?
Lee remembered his fancy that he had
seen an indian watching them. The
free Traders would surely have been
watching the trail at either end of the
iake knowing that sooner or later they
must emerge out OF the forests.
Ihen he remembered the shadow in |
the log house. and this specter In
winch he had disbelleved, now began
20 assume In his mind formidable
aspect
suddenly. as Lee chung there, he
heard rumbling sound above his
mead, and moment later something
hurfled past 1t and smashed upon the
ground Of the chasm. Looking down
Lee saw the fragments of an enor-
nous boulder lying on the ground i'm
medlately beneath him.
K. He had had d narrow escape And
reluctantly he turned to re-enter the
tunnel. But before he had thrust his
heun and shoulders In, there came an
other rumble. And this time 1t was I
only the little projecting ledge above
his head that saved his life. h
The boulder struck the edge of 1t. +
shot out into the air. and, just missing h
MIN, smashed to pieces below. ~- 81
Lee looked up, but the overhanging b
ihfs shut out the view of everything b'
except the overhanging bushes and the p'
ky. al
Whether or not human agency was
esponslble for the fall of the two ba
IL was certain that the tan-
a's mouth did not appear to be pc
articularly healthy spot at that mo- eq
'ent nm
Ana Lee forced his head and shoul- full
prs through. and CROPPED for the rock
hder within, bruising his thighs and ma
'ins against the edges OF the open- str
rs. Extending his hands, he felt the gre
Aooth surface OF the water-worn. In to
rior wall He grasped the ladder, Ill
ing to 1t. pulled himself up, and ser
md his footing. rop
and then of sudden Lee had the of
unsuitable instinct that he was not onn
'fe There was another living thing gan
thin the tunnel r.
Though II was absolutely dark ex- loo
pit for the faintest reflection from, stro
interior of the gorge. which filtered fists
from below. and though Lee could bov,
hear the faintest sound. he felt its nm
'sence; by some inner sense that bloo
not hearing. he felt the rhythmIcaI Ua
,'n' VI us me- and
- ""' "uiiiun peing. Lee felt merl
fog Of human hatred flung ont TO. ~
rd him. lnstinctively he knew tbe Loo
VI an encounter under con- he
ons more nerve-rackIng than any Tn
n"u ever experienced. He knew Lee
sure now that the fall of the two lenpt
lders had been no accident. ,Igbt
e mad been watched, he had been Ion
to enter, and that watcher meant Tn
nght him TO the death. And OF Tn
Sc 1t was Pely! ,t-a :,
u'u nv' reiis'i the prospect Of a sailar
ggle with the crazed old man, one stone
u could hardly end Ia auy other m