White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-06-06
CHAPTER VII

tive q notion to ride this log
through the gorgeI'' exclaimed Lucy.
Belle. 81 want to know what Is I'm
Der and between those wallis which
you say no one has ever explored.
Colin. What do you suppose can be
there?"
IAN inferno of devils, I imagine"
replied her husband.
POSSIBLY not. Fairies might live
there" suggested Claire.
"A black and sunless place where
lovely water maids without eyes frolic
In the darkness" added Paul
"Or kingdom of Micomicon, where
dreams are made and sent out into
the world,' said Carla
Derwent was preparing his end of
the log for final Ileave. II insist it
Is place of devils and death. Still,
like Belle I'd like to see WHATS
there. After all, it's fifty million
years of-mystery Are you ready,
Paul?"
"Ready !"
The log pitched down, and rs II
went the end of 1t swung like living
thing and struck Paul. Even before
the blown the lightning flash of
time when eyes behind could see 1t
sweeping upon hfm-a sudden scream
filled his consciousness. aud as the
timber caught him he saw 1t was
Claire whose cry had tried to warn
him fI>hnn no l.nS with hnt
graphic clearness his eyes beheld his
fate. The water seemed to reach up
and catch him on its oily breast, and
for a brief instant after this there
was sensation not nnpeusing about
Its hold. For some uJl;lccountable rea
son he felt no sense Of fear or terror
even when forces that were irresiSt
lble but gentle pulled him down He
knew it was death, the death they had
played with and lightly talked about,
yet Its presence closing about him did
not rob his mind of its vision and
Judgment, MOI frighlen him into sense
less wrestling with it. He would come
up again, alive, near the jagged tooth
of rock; after that would he his end.
and In such an hour as this seconds
became eterDiteS of life. His wife
Carla, Lucy. Belle, ard Derwent were
still nearer to him than the final
stroke of death; he would see them
especially Claire and Carla, when he
looked back in those few moments Of
grace which the monster Of fine I'm
dertows would give him. These two.
and the supreme filth which had
wrought comradesllp between him
and NIL the forces of Nature. gave
him. instinctiyely and without effort
the courage not to be afraid.
The undsrcurrent's inlraugl,ts and
refluxes carried him with quiet and
deliberate leisureliness, which gave
him no physical discomfort except that
Of holding his breath. Yet they were
SO powerful, SO utterly sure in their
grip, that when he made an expert
mental effort TO reach. the surface II
was as If he were struggling against
wooden wall. To save the mir in his
lungs he restrained himself from fur
ther exerti0n, and when. at last. he
came up near the rock, and felt fresh
air in his face, he had suffered no
greater Inconvenience than If he had
taken long dive. His first thought
was of the log, his second of the
granite silAg. Against this, after
moment, he felt himself being slowly
lifted. and throwing out his hands he
was thrilled by the fibrous. Shiny
touch Of q ropelike substance which
had gathered thickIy about II just
under the surface of the water River
weeds and flag had wrapped them
selves in q tough belt about the rock
and so firmly had they attached them
selves to 1t that lie knew they would
for a time at least. hold up his weight
from the sucking undertow which WAS