Zane Grey - The Day of the Beast

Rowing now with the most powerful of strokes, Lane kept the bow of the boat upstream and a little to the right. Thus he gained more toward the shore. But he must time the moment when it would be necessary to turn sharply.

“I can—make—it,” muttered Lane. He felt no excitement. The thing had been given him to do. His strokes were swift, but there was no hurry.

Suddenly he felt a strange catching of breath in his lungs. He coughed. Blood, warm and salt, welled up from his throat. Then his bitter, strangled cry went out over the waters. At last he understood the voices of the river.

Lane quickened his strokes. He swung the bow in. He pointed it shoreward. Straight for the opening of the sluice! His last strokes were prodigious. The boat swung the right way and shot into the channel. Lane dropped his oars. He saw men below wading knee-deep in the water. The boat rode the incline, down to the long swell and curled yellow billows below, where it was checked with violent shock. Lane felt himself propelled as if into darkness.

When Lane opened his eyes he recognized as through a veil the little parlor of the Idens. All about him seemed dim and far away. Faces and voices were there, indistinguishable. A dark cloud settled over his eyes. He dreamed but could not understand the dreams. The black veil came and went.

What was the meaning of the numbness of his body? The immense weight upon his breast! Then it seemed he saw better, though he could not move. Sunlight streamed in at the window. Outside were maple leaves, gold and red and purple, swaying gently. Then a great roaring sound seemed to engulf him. The rapids? The voice of the river.

Then Mel was there kneeling beside him. All save her face grew vague.

“Swann?” he whispered.

“You saved his life,” said Mel.

“Ah!” And straightway he forgot. “Mel—what's—wrong—with me?”

Mel's face was like white marble and her hands on his trembled violently. She could not answer. But he knew. There seemed to be a growing shadow in the room. Her eyes held a terrible darkness.

“Mel, I—never told—you,” he whispered. “I married you—because I loved you.... But I was—jealous.... I hated.... I couldn't forgive. I couldn't understand.... Now I know. There's a law no woman—can transgress. Soul and love are the same—in a woman. They must be inviolable.... If I could have lived—I'd have surrendered to you. For I loved you—beyond words to tell. It was love that made me well.... But we could not have been happy. Never, with that spectre between us.... And, so—it must be—always.... In spite of war—and wealth—in spite of men—women must rise....”

His voice failed, and again the strange rush and roar enveloped him. But it seemed internal, dimmer and farther away. Mel's face was fading. She spoke. And her words were sweet, without meaning. Then the fading grayness merged into night.

THE END

There's More to Follow!

More stories of the sort you like; more, probably, by

the author of this one; more than 500 titles all told

by writers of world-wide reputation, in the Authors'

Alphabetical List which you will find on the reverse

side of the wrapper of this book. Look it over before

you lay it aside. There are books here you are sure to

want—some, possibly, that you have always wanted.

It is a selected list; every book in it has achieved

a certain measure of success .

The Grosset &Dunlap list is not only the greatest

Index of Good Fiction available, it represents in

addition a generally accepted Standard of Value. It

will pay you to

Look on the Other Side of the Wrapper !

In case the wrapper is lost write to the publishers

for a complete catalog

ZANE GREY'S NOVELS

May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset Dunlap's list.

TO THE LAST MAN

THE MYSTERIOUS RIDER

THE MAN OF THE FOREST

THE DESERT OF WHEAT

THE U.P. TRAIL

WILDFIRE

THE BORDER LEGION

THE RAINBOW TRAIL

THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT

RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE

THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS

THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN

THE LONE STAR RANGER

DESERT GOLD

BETTY ZANE

LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS

The life story of “Buffalo Bill” by his sister Helen

Cody Wetmore, with Foreword and conclusion by Zane

Grey.

ZANE GREY'S BOOKS FOR BOYS

KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE

THE YOUNG LION HUNTER

THE YOUNG FORESTER

THE YOUNG PITCHER

THE SHORT STOP

THE RED-HEADED OUTFIELD AND OTHER BASEBALL STORIES

GROSSET &DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

B.M. BOWER'S NOVELS

May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset

and Dunlap's list.

THE EAGLE'S WING

THE PAROWAN BONANZA

THE VOICE AT JOHNNYWATER

CASEY RYAN

CHIP OF THE FLYING U

COW-COUNTRY

FLYING U RANCH

FLYING U'S LAST STAND, THE

GOOD INDIAN

GRINGOS, THE

HAPPY FAMILY, THE

HER PRAIRIE KNIGHT

HERITAGE OF THE SIOUX, THE

LONG SHADOW, THE

LONESOME TRAIL, THE

LOOKOUT MAN, THE

LURE OF THE DIM TRAILS, THE

PHANTOM HERD, THE

QUIRT, THE

RANGE DWELLERS, THE

RIM O' THE WORLD

SKYRIDER

STARR OF THE DESERT

THUNDER BIRD, THE

TRAIL OF THE WHITE MULE, THE

UPHILL CLIMB, THE

GROSSET &DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

GEORGE W. OGDEN'S WESTERN NOVELS

May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset Dunlap's list.

THE BARON OF DIAMOND TAIL

The Elk Mountain Cattle Co. had not paid a dividend in

years; so Edgar Barrett, fresh from the navy, was sent

West to see what was wrong at the ranch. The tale of

this tenderfoot outwitting the buckaroos at their own

play will sweep you into the action of this salient

western novel.

THE BONDBOY

Joe Newbolt, bound out by force of family conditions

to work for a number of years, is accused of murder

and circumstances are against him. His mouth is

sealed; he cannot, as a gentleman, utter the words

that would clear him. A dramatic, romantic tale of

intense interest.

CLAIM NUMBER ONE

Dr. Warren Slavens drew claim number one, which

entitled him to first choice of rich lands on an

Indian reservation in Wyoming. It meant a fortune; but

before he established his ownership he had a hard

battle with crooks and politicians.

THE DUKE OF CHIMNEY BUTTE

When Jerry Lambert, “the Duke,” attempts to safeguard

the cattle ranch of Vesta Philbrook from thieving

neighbors, his work is appallingly handicapped because

of Grace Kerr, one of the chief agitators, and a

deadly enemy of Vesta's. A stirring tale of brave

deeds, gun-play and a love that shines above all.

THE FLOCKMASTER OF POISON CREEK

John Mackenzie trod the trail from Jasper to the great

sheep country where fortunes were being made by the

flock-masters. Shepherding was not a peaceful pursuit

in those bygone days. Adventure met him at every

turn—there is a girl of course—men fight their best

fights for a woman—it is an epic of the sheeplands.

THE LAND OF LAST CHANCE

Jim Timberlake and Capt. David Scott waited with

restless thousands on the Oklahoma line for the signal

to dash across the border. How the city of Victory

arose overnight on the plains, how people savagely

defended their claims against the “sooners;” how good

men and bad played politics, makes a strong story of

growth and American initiative.

TRAIL'S END

Ascalon was the end of the trail for thirsty cowboys

who gave vent to their pent-up feelings without