nd who had been
responsible for the tragedy. He took Withers, the trader, into his
confidence, and they planned a story, which Withers was to carry to
Stonebridge, that would exculpate Fay and Shefford of anything more
serious than flight. If Shefford got Fay safely out of the country at
once that would end the matter for all concerned.

"Reckon I'm some ferry-boatman, too--a FAIRY boatman. Haw! Haw!" he
added. "And we're going through.... Now I want you to help me rig this
tarpaulin up over the bow of the boat. If we can fix it up strong it'll
keep the waves from curling over. They filled her four times for me."

They folded the tarpaulin three times, and with stout pieces of split
plank and horseshoe nails from Shefford's saddle-bags and pieces of rope
they rigged up a screen around bow and front corners.

Nas Ta Bega put the saddles in the boat. The mustangs were far up
Nonnezoshe Boco and would work their way back to green and luxuriant
canyons. The Indian said they would soon become wild and would never
be found. Shefford regretted Nack-yal, but was glad the faithful little
mustang would be free in one of those beautiful canyons.

"Reckon we'd better be off," called Joe. "All aboard!" He placed Fay
and Jane in a corner of the bow, where they would be spared sight of the
rapids. Shefford loosed the rope and sprang aboard. "Pard," said Joe,
"it's one hell of a river! And now with the snow melting up in the
mountains it's twenty feet above normal and rising fast. But that's well
for us. It covers the stones in the rapids. If it hadn't been in flood
Joe would be an angel now!"

The boat cleared the sand, lazily wheeled in the eddying water, and
suddenly seemed caught by some powerful gliding force. When it swept
out beyond the jutting wall Shefford saw a quarter of a mile of sliding
water that appeared to end abruptly. Beyond lengthened out the gigantic
gap between the black and frowning cliffs.

"Wow!" ejaculated Joe. "Drops out of sight there. But that one
ain't much. I can tell by the roar. When you see my hair stand up
straight--then watch out!... Lassiter, you look after the women.
Shefford, you stand ready to bail out with the shovel, for we'll sure
ship water. Nas Ta Bega, you help here with the oar."

The roar became a heavy, continuous rumble; the current quickened;
little streaks and ridges seemed to race along the boat; strange
gurglings rose from under the bow. Shefford stood on tiptoe to see the
br