hed downstream. He went under, tried to cry for help, and
swallowed several gulps of water. When he came to the surface again he
was still close to the island, buffeted by the boiling torrent. It swept
him to a bar of willow bushes. To these he clung with the frenzy of a
drowning man.

After a time he let go one hand-hold and found another. Gradually he
worked into the shallows and to land. He could see Powder River, far
downstream, still fighting impotently against the pressure of the
current.

Bob shuddered. If he lived a hundred years he would never have a closer
escape from drowning. It gave him a dreadful sinking at the stomach even
to look at the plunging Blanco. The river was like some fearful monster
furiously seeking to devour.

The voice of Hawks came to him. "Stay there while I get the boss."

The dismounted cowboy watched Hawks ride away, then lay down in the hot
sand and let the sun bake him. He felt sick and weak, as helpless as a
blind and wobbly pup.

It may have been an hour later that he heard voices and looked across to
the mouth of the ravine. Harshaw and Big Bill and Dud were there with
Hawks. They were in a group working with ropes.

Harshaw rode into the river. He carried a coil of rope. Evidently two or
more lariats had been tied together.

"Come out far as you can and catch this rope when I throw it," Harshaw
told the marooned cowboy.

Bob ventured out among the willows, wading very carefully to make sure of
his footing. The current swirled around his thighs and tugged at him.

The cattleman flung the rope. It fell short. He pulled it in and rewound
the coil. This time he drove his horse into deeper water. The animal was
swimming when the loop sailed across to the willows.

Dillon caught it, slipped it over his body, and drew the noose tight. A
moment later he was being tossed about by the cross-currents. The lariat
tightened. He was dragged under as the force of the torrent flung him
into midstream. His body was racked by conflicting forces tugging at it.
He was being torn in two, the victim of a raging battle going on to
possess him. Now he was on his face, now on his back. For an instant he
caught a glimpse of blue sunlit sky before he plunged down again into the
black waters and was engulfed by them....

He opened his eyes. Dud's voice came from a long way.

"Comin' to all right. Didn't I tell you this bird couldn't drown?"

The mists cleared. Bob saw Dud's cheerful smile, and