White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-10-05
CHAPTER VIII-Continued

to be true, stepped to the small win
dow, set high under the caves, and
looked up to the heavens. | could
have shouted aloud in Joy as beheld
the mighty wall of black and slate
towering almost to the zenith with it's
l%ead-colored draperies dragging on the
horizon.
While we had talked and watched
for danger the storm had swept down
the river and was upon us. The open
ing grew dusky and it would have
been an easy task for the savages
to have crawled close In the uncertain
light. Again the Thunder-god hurled
a spear at the water-serpent and the
noise Of the contest transcribed all
earth sounds. A strange moaning ran
through the forest-crown and lofty
tops bowed and swayed although as
yet there was no air moving in the
opening.
"Tm thinking It's going to rain"
remarked the girl in a faint voice.
THANK God, yes! Stay back there
to see they try no tricks" l eau
toned as she came toward me.
The lightning ripped across the face
of the clouds, and the girl gave a lit
tie squeal. l went to her to learn
what was the matter.
thinking I'm scared of these sort of
storms"
1t seemed impossible that one who
had shown such absolute control OF
nerves could be frightened by a flash
of lightning and the rumble of thun.
der. And yet she was cIinging to me
like a child, striving to conquer her
self, yet keeping her face pressed
against my fringed sleeve so as not
to see the glare of the bolts. en-.
deavored to soothe away her fears
by telling her the storm was our best
friend; that 1t would make the cabin
fre-proof, that 1t would compel the
Indians to keep their guns covered
and their bow-strings protected from
the rain. But as l talked l could feel
her vince convulsively each time the
god renewed the ancient strife.
With a deafening roar the rain
came battering against the cabin. 1t
was impossible to distinguish an OBJ
ject fifty feet from the door. Now was
the time for the enemy to attack and
cut their way into US and finish US
with their belt weapons. Raising my
voice about the terrific drumming of
the rain, | told the girl:
We'll 60. The rain will wash out
our trail. Find something to wrap
around the rifles"
She found some oiled skins and we
wrapped them about our rifles. l
opened the door. The water was falling
in torrents and the wind was blowing
with great velocity. Closing the door,
we were plastered against the walls
for a moment by the force of the wind.
1 sought to shelter her by holding her
close to my side; and leaning against
the storm, we made for the woods.
We could not talk and we scarcely
could see because of the rain filling
our faces. We both realized that such
a downpour could not last long. Our
progress was slow, but finally | was
waist-deep In IN cherry bushes. We
fought through these and came to drip
ping trees and entered among them.
The uproar of the storm suddenly
lessened now that we were walking
on ancient forest mold and were shell.
tered from the wind. Rivulets of wa.
ter ran under our feet and there was
no need to hide our trail until we were
two miles In the woods. We we're as
wet as two river-rats.
It became strangely quiet In the drip
ping woods and we no longer shouted
to make ourselves heard. How the
storm was raging outside we could
only guess. I feared 1t was abating.
"TheyIl lose some time, mister, In
making sure we're not in the cabin"
the girl philosophically remarked.
sand it's Citing so dark they can't
find our tracks even If we do leave
some"
I'VE must find a place under a rock
where we can make a fire and you
can dry out"
She laughed at me, and her voice
was most musical because 1t was
natural.
Hard work to drown a WITCH" she
said. "L've Jared hard before this and
didn't mind It,"
| remembered those days when the
House of the Open Hand entertained
and when beauty must be gently
wrapped In waterproof coverings and
sent home in coaches. This wild young
creature at my side had done a mans
work and more. She was made up Of
the outdoors.
It grew very dark, and without stars
to guide US we would have wandered
blindly If not for a little run that we
stumbled upon and which | remem-
bered flowed parallel to Turtle creek.
We took to the water, knee-deep be.
cause Of the rain, and worked our way
upstream by clutching at the over
hanging boughs. We finally left the
stream where a wfndfall had smoth.
cred 1t. By the sense of touch alone
l found a spot clear of brush and un-
dergrowth and informed my companion
we must wait for daylight before pro-
ceeding. could find no dry fuel, even
had | dared to build a fire.
1--WE have water, but nc fine nor
food" | told her.
you're wrong, mister, about food.
| fetched this along" she answered;
and her hands found mine with q
small package wrapped In deerskin.
1t was some of Frazier's smoked