e was to bound into the woods, but the thought of his
comrade arrested him. La Certe was already close at hand. Running
towards him he said, quickly, "Drop your load! Now or never!" and cut
his bonds at once. Then, turning, he sprang towards the woods. But
from the very opening through which he meant to plunge into the tangled
thicket, there issued the leader of the Nor'-westers and two of his men.
The chief was armed with a gun, which he immediately presented. With
the instinct of bush-warriors the two prisoners dodged behind rocks, and
made for the higher ground which Dan had recently quitted. Here a sheer
precipice barred further progress. There was no way of escape but the
river. They ran to the edge and looked down. La Certe shrank back,
appalled. Dan glanced quickly round to see if there was any other
opening. Then there came over his spirit that old, old resolve which
has, in the moment of their extremity, nerved so many men to face danger
and death, from the days of Adam downward.

"Now, La Certe," he said, grasping his comrade's hand: "Farewell! Death
or Freedom! Tell Elspie my last thoughts were of her!"

Almost before the half-breed could realise what was said, Dan had leaped
over the cliff and disappeared in the raging torrent. A few seconds
later he was seen to rise in the whirlpool below the first cataract, and
to buffet the stream vigorously, then he disappeared a second time.
Before La Certe could make out whether his friend rose again, he was
seized from behind, and dragged from the brink of the precipice.

Swift as the hunted stag springs from his covert, and bounds over every
obstacle with speed and apparent ease, so sprang the chief of the
Nor'-westers down the rugged path which led to the foot of the series of
rapids, and the lower end of the portage. There was good grit in the
man, morally and physically, for he was bent on a rescue which involved
considerable danger.

Throwing off his capote, and tightening his belt, he stood on a ledge
just below the last fall, intently watching the water.

The fall was not high, but it was deep, and rushed into a large dark
basin with terrible velocity, causing the tormented foam-speckled water
to circulate round its edges. In a few moments the form of Dan was seen
to shoot down the fall and disappear in the basin. The chief stooped,
but did not spring until, not far from him, the apparently inanimate
form reappeared on the surface and bega