joined　Gilbert　in　the　skiff；　and　together
  they　paddled　furiously　out　of　the　creek
  into　the　river。
  The　moon　was　up　in　all　her　splendor；
  and　objects　on　the　water　were　plainly
  visible　for　some　distance。　Lillian　was
  seated　in　the　bow；　facing　the　two　boys
  at　the　paddles。　Leander　and　Dink　fell
  in　the　wake　of　Sandy's　skiff；　about　ten
  yards　in　the　rear。
  As　the　party　reached　the　middle　of
  the　channel；　a　skiff　came　into　view　from
  the　bend；　a　short　way　above；　and　steered
  directly　toward　them。　With　a　cry；
  Lillian　stood　up：
  ‘‘Oh；　Gil；　here　come　those　two　bad
  men　that　took　me　away。''
  The　boys　turned；　and　they；　too；
  recognized　Dennis　Foley　and　Hildey　as　the
  occupants　of　the　approaching　boat。
  ‘‘Lie　flat；　little　one；''　whispered　Sandy；
  ‘‘an'　don't　move　till　I　tells　yer。''
  The　child　obeyed；　but　already　Foley
  and　his　partner　had　espied　her；　and　it
  was　evident　they　were　using　all　their
  efforts　to　catch　up。　Leander　now　called：
  ‘‘It's　the　same　gang；　Sandy；　that　came
  out　of　the　creek。　What　shall　we　do？''
  ‘‘Paddle　fer　all　ye're　worth；''　was
  shouted　back。
  ‘‘Hold　up；　or　we'll　shoot；''　yelled　Dennis　Foley。
  With　that　a　pistol…shot　was　heard
  coming　from　the　direction　of　the
  pursuers；　but　the　bullet　went　wide　of　its
  mark；　and　the　boys　sped　on。
  ‘‘Don't　waste　yer　load　unless　yer　haveto；''
  cautioned　Sandy；　‘‘　'cause　yer　won't　have
  time　to　put　in　'nother；　an'　I　don't　want　er
  draw　their　fire；　fer　fear　they　might　hit　Lily。''
  The　race　had　become　one　of　life　and
  death。　The　boys　strained　to　the　utmost
  their　strong　young　muscles；　and；　with
  paddles　bent　almost　double；　drove　their
  little　craft　like　the　wind　before　them。
  Down　past　Turtle　Creek　they　flew；　Licking
  Banks　were　soon　left　behind；　and
  shortly；　they　were　alongside　the
  Sycamores。　Dink　looked　back　over　his
  shoulder；　and　whispered：
  ‘‘We　ain't　gained　on　'em　a　bit；　an'
  they　seem　to　be　goin'　strong。''
  When　the　Meadows　were　reached；　Dink
  said　again：
  ‘‘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。
  ‘‘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　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：
  ‘‘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。
  Leander　and　Dink；　meanwhile；　had
  come　up；　and　with　the　other　two　boys
  remained　for　fully　half　an　hour　waiting
  for　some　sign　of　the　two　robbers；　but
  in　vain；　for　far　beneath　the　surface　of
  the　water　in　the　maddening　current；　the
  ill…spent　lives　of　Foley　and　Hildey　were
  ended。　They　were　dead　in　the　cruel
  embrace　of　the　Devil's　Elbow。
  End