tons let go with a roar only a few yards
below, and Bat and the girl worked as neither had ever worked before to
tow their burden upstream to the sloping bank. But the force of the
current and the conformation of the bank, which slanted outward at an
angle that diminished the force of the pull by half, rendered their
efforts in vain.

"You stan' back!" ordered Bat sharply, as a section of earth gave way
almost beneath their feet, but the girl paid no attention, and the two
redoubled their efforts.

In the water, Endicott took in the situation at a glance. He realized
that the strain of the pull was more than the two could overcome.
Realized also that each moment added to the Jeopardy of the half-breed
and the girl. There was one chance--and only one. Relieved of his
weight, the unresisting form of the Texan could be dragged to
safety--and he would take that chance.

"_Non_! _Non_!" The words were fairly hurled from the half-breed's
lips, as he seemed to divine what was passing in Endicott's mind. But
Endicott gave no heed. Deliberately he let go the rope and the next
moment was whirled from sight, straight toward the seething vortex of
the canyon, where the moonlight revealed dimly in the distance only a
wild rush of lashing waters and the thrashing limbs of uprooted trees.

CHAPTER XII

TEX DOES SOME SCOUTING

The moon hung low over the peaks to the westward when the Texan opened
his eyes. For some moments he stared about him in bewilderment, his
gaze travelling slowly from the slicker-clad form of the girl, who sat
close beside him with her face buried in her arms, to the little group
of horses that stood huddled dejectedly together. With an effort he
struggled to his elbow, and at the movement, the girl raised her head
and turned a very white face toward him.

Shivering with cold, the Texan raised himself to a sitting posture.
"Where's Bat?" he asked. "An' why ain't he onsaddled those horses, an'
built a fire? I'm froze stiff."

"Bat has gone to--to find Winthrop," answered the girl, with a painful
catch in her voice. "He wouldn't wait, and I had no matches, and yours
were all wet, and I couldn't loosen the cinches."

Tex passed his hand over his forehead, as if trying to remember, and
his fingers prodded tenderly at his jaw. "I recollect bein' in the
water, an' the pilgrim was there, an' we were scrappin' an' he punched
me in the jaw. He carries a whallop up his sleeve like the kick