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‘‘They're comin' like everythin'。''
‘‘Don't weaken；'' urged Leander； ‘‘as long as we're between them and
Sandy's skiff； they'll have to kill us before they can get to Lillian。''
The moon was casting its light on the waters like a great silvery path；
and the splashing of the paddles was the only sound that awakened the
echoes。 Again came the sharp report of a pistol； and Dink dodged； as if by
instinct。 He wheeled in his seat and shot point…blank at Foley； but the ball
imbedded itself in the side of the skiff behind and did no further damage。
‘‘That's tit for tat；'' said Dink； ‘‘but it wuz a mighty close call fer me。
When the bullet whizzed past my ear I thought I was plugged； sure。''
There were now not more than fifteen yards between the boys and
their pursuers。 Turning about； Leander saw Hildey raise his pistol and take
careful aim at him。 Quick as thought； the boy fired first； and Hildey
uttered a sharp cry of pain； as his right arm fell helpless； and his pistol
dropped into the water。
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‘‘Curse the luck！'' muttered Foley。 ‘‘Don't give up； pard； we'll ketch
'em afore they git much further。''
Though Hildey's right arm was useless； he plied the paddle with his
left； and the men continued to gain。 As the boys passed through under the
bridge； Leander's boat was abreast of Sandy； who whispered：
‘‘I'll take the swash on the right that goes through the big marsh and
comes out at the Devil's Elbow。 You hug the channel bank； an' mebbe we'll
fool 'em。''
Sandy knew that； after the river left the bridge； it went almost
southerly for half a mile； then made an abrupt turn at right angles； pursued
its way westward for another quarter of a mile； and then met the swash
channel； which cut diagonally through the big marsh。 At this junction of
the two streams a whirlpool called the Devil's Elbow had been formed； a
treacherous spot for small craft； and requiring rare skill to pass in safety。
When Sandy told Leander to take the main channel； it was with a
desperate hope that Foley and Hildey would be in doubt； for the moment；
which skiff to follow as they came out under the bridge。 Within himself；
he reasoned that this hesitation； on their part； would consume sufficient
time to permit the boys to gain a lead and reach in safety the landing； two
miles below。
‘‘The chances are jest even…Stephen；'' he said to Gilbert； ‘‘though it
separates us from Leander； till we reach the Devil's Elbow。''
But alas！ Sandy's reasoning failed him for once this time。
As Foley and Hildey came through under the bridge； the former cried：
‘‘Steer to the right channel an' foller that boat； that's the one the kid's
in。''
‘‘They're after us； darn 'em；'' said Sandy； ‘‘but we're gittin' ahead bully。
Keep it up； Gil； an' we'll come out all right； see if we don't。''
Dripping with perspiration； and with hands burned and blistered；
Sandy and Gilbert were forging ahead and gaining on their pursuers；
straining every nerve to increase their lead。 As they rounded a bend in the
channel； Hildey shouted：
‘‘There's yer chance to plug 'em； pard。 Shoot！''
Foley obeyed； and the boys' skiff； which was a metallic one； was bored
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The Fifth String
through by the pistol ball。 The water poured through the hole； and Sandy
shouted to Gilbert：
‘‘Drop yer paddle； take yer hat an' put it over the leak； tight as yer kin；
bale with the other hand； or we'll sink in a minit。 Lily； sit up； so yer won't
get wet； but don't show yer head；'' and with a courage born of despair；
Sandy renewed his efforts。
Foley was gaining rapidly； and it seemed that only a miracle could
prevent the boy's capture before they reached the Devil's Elbow。
Three minutes passed with only the sound of the lightning…like dip of
the paddles。 Another short bend in the channel； and a hundred yards ahead
was the confluence of the two currents； which were ever at war。
‘‘Keep on bailing； Gil；'' cried Sandy； ‘‘an' when we git past the Elbow；
if they're too close to us； I'm goin' to use my pistol on 'em； but I don't want
ter shoot till I can make the shot tell fer all it's worth。 Steady； Lily； hold
tight； Gil； don't move； I'll git yer through without swampin'； 'cause I
knows every current in the Elbow。''
Through the mad swirl of waters the boy held his boat； and steered her
into the quiet tide beyond。
Leander and Dink were just turning the bend of the main channel an
eighth of a mile away； and the skiff containing Foley and Hildey had
reached the outer current of the eddy。
‘‘Now you've got 'em；'' yelled Hildey； as Sandy's skiff veered to the
left； not twenty yards from the other。
‘‘Not if I knows it；'' cried Sandy as he shot square at Foley； the ball
going through the sleeve of his coat； but leaving him unharmed。
‘‘Curse yer fer a fool！'' came from Foley； dropping his paddle and
standing up in the skiff； which now had nothing to guide it but Hildey's
exhausted arm。 The skiff was rocking violently。 Foley attempted to
balance himself as he raised his pistol to shoot。 In a flash the frail craft
was caught in the conflicting currents； it careened and capsized； and the
two men were battling for life in the whirlpool。
Sandy was so intent on escape that he had gone some distance down
stream before realizing he was no longer pursued。 Suddenly an agonizing
cry was borne on the midnight air：
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The Fifth String
‘‘Help！ Help！ I'm drownin'！''
The boy rested on his paddle； and scanned the river in the direction of
the voice。
‘‘Don't let's let 'em drown like rats in a hole；'' said Sandy； and he
started his boat back toward the bend。
‘‘Gil； gimme yer pistol。 They may be tryin' to play some trick on us；
an' if they are； we'll be ready for 'em。''
The precaution was unnecessary； for when they came near； they saw
the upturned skiff circling around in the eddy； its paddles bobbing with the
waves； and the hats of Foley and Hildey slowly drifting toward the bank。
Lea