of ice, which rose, and fell,
and rose again. Below, and but a few feet away, Del Bishop ran out to
the bank, and above the roar they could hear faintly his "Hit 'er up!
Hit 'er up!" Then the ice-rim wrinkled up and he sprang back to escape
it.

"The first opening," Corliss gasped.

Frona's lips spread apart; she tried to speak but failed, then nodded
her head that she had heard. They swung along in rapid rhythm under
the rainbow-wall, looking for a place where it might be quickly
cleared. And down all the length of Split-up Island they raced vainly,
the shore crashing behind them as they fled.

As they darted across the mouth of the back-channel to Roubeau Island
they found themselves heading directly for an opening in the rim-ice.
La Bijou drove into it full tilt, and went half her length out of water
on a shelving cake. The three leaped together, but while the two of
them gripped the canoe to run it up, Tommy, in the lead, strove only to
save himself. And he would have succeeded had he not slipped and
fallen midway in the climb. He half arose, slipped, and fell again.
Corliss, hauling on the bow of the canoe, trampled over him. He
reached up and clutched the gunwale. They did not have the strength,
and this clog brought them at once to a standstill. Corliss looked
back and yelled for him to leave go, but he only turned upward a
piteous face, like that of a drowning man, and clutched more tightly.
Behind them the ice was thundering. The first flurry of coming
destruction was upon them. They endeavored desperately to drag up the
canoe, but the added burden was too much, and they fell on their knees.
The sick man sat up suddenly and laughed wildly. "Blood of my soul!"
he ejaculated, and laughed again.

Roubeau Island swayed to the first shock, and the ice was rocking under
their feet. Frona seized a paddle and smashed the Scotsman's knuckles;
and the instant he loosed his grip, Corliss carried the canoe up in a
mad rush, Frona clinging on and helping from behind. The rainbow-wall
curled up like a scroll, and in the convolutions of the scroll, like a
bee in the many folds of a magnificent orchid, Tommy disappeared.

They fell, breathless, on the earth. But a monstrous cake shoved up
from the jam and balanced above them. Frona tried to struggle to her
feet, but sank on her knees; and it remained for Corliss to snatch her
and the canoe out from underneath. Again they fell, this time under
the trees,