Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/239

Rh sharp, the figure was silhouetted against the afterglow of the evening sky. Only for a moment did Connie pause to stare at the flying figure, and calling to Ick Far to follow, rushed in headlong pursuit. Across a narrow valley they dashed and, clawing, scrambling, stumbling, succeeded at length in gaining the summit of the ridge. As they paused to regain their breath the eyes of both scrutinized their surroundings. A strip of naked rock interposed between the scrub growth and the extreme end of the ridge upon which a mass of huge rock fragments stood high above the lake. And it was across this bare strip that the woman had run from the direction of the scrub.

"We've got her, now!" exclaimed Connie excitedly. "It's too steep for her to get down. She's hiding there in the rocks."

But Ick Far shook his head gloomily and pointed to the black waters which lapped at the base of the rock- wall far below. "I'm t'ink we no ketch," he said tersely. "She gon' to de tamahnawus—deep down on de floor of de lak'."

Connie laughed nervously. "Come on!" he said shortly, "we'll see," and led the way toward the mass of rock fragments.