"It was great," said Inza, as they finally reached the level above. "I enjoyed every moment of it, but it made me feel so dreadfully mean and insignificant. I"m glad we took the ride, but I don"t think I"d care to take it again to-morrow. Where shall we go now, Frank?"
"We"ll stroll over onto Goat Island," said Merry.
They left the car when it finally reached the place from which they had started on the American side.
Barely had they started toward the island when a carriage stopped beside them and the driver importuned them to let him take them round.
"You couldn"t take all of us in that carriage," said Merry.
"I"ll call another in a moment," said the driver, and started to do so.
"Hold on," said Merriwell. "We prefer to walk."
"Not I," said Browning. "How much is it?"
"Twenty-five cents each," was the answer. "I"ll take you round and show you all the points of interest."
"Cheap enough," said Bruce, and he promptly climbed in.
In vain the driver urged others to get in. He was even somewhat insolent in his insistence. Finally he drove off with Bruce lazily waving his hand from the rear seat of the carriage.
Frank laughed softly.
"Browning will get enough of that," he declared. "Those fellows urge you to get in for a twenty-five-cent ride, promising to show you numerous points of interest; but almost before they get you over to the island they begin suggesting a longer drive that will cost you a dollar, two dollars, or even three dollars. They keep harping on it until they destroy all the pleasure and enjoyment of the twenty-five-cent ride, and if they find they cannot inveigle you into taking a longer ride they become absolutely insulting and offensive. That fellow will be sore when he learns that Bruce has been over to the Canadian side and round the gorge."
There was plenty of time, and the party enjoyed the walk over the bridge to Goat Island. Midway on the bridge they paused to watch the rush of the rapids, where the water came bulging over a distant ridge, and swept toward them with a hissing, roaring sound that was quite indescribable.
Having reached the island, they proceeded to cross the little bridge to Luna Island, from which a near view of the American Falls was obtained.
Here again they saw a portion of the beautiful rainbow in the rising mist.
From Luna Island they retraced their steps, and then sauntered along the iron-railed lower edge of Goat Island. They were strongly tempted to visit the Cave of the Winds under the falls, but Merry knew the waterproof clothing furnished would not be sufficient to keep them from becoming uncomfortably damp, and this, together with the fact that the afternoon was rapidly turning cold, caused them to decide to refrain from descending the wonderfully long stairway and crossing the spray-dripping bridge to the cave.
From the outer extremity of Goat Island they obtained another fine view of the Horseshoe Falls.
Deciding to visit the upper end of the island for the purpose of viewing the wonderful rapids above the falls, they had not proceeded far before they came upon Browning, who was sitting on a bench and looking very sour and disgusted.
"Why, h.e.l.lo, Bruce!" called Frank. "All through with your drive? That"s odd."
The giant made a rumbling sound in his throat.
"Don"t talk to me about that!" he exploded. "Why, that chap just bored me to death trying to induce me to let him drive me over to the Canadian side and around to other places. Couldn"t choke him off. Told him I"d been across. He kept it up. Asked me if I"d seen this, and that, and the other. I said yes, yes, yes! Then I invited him to shut up. First thing I knew he was taking me back off the island. He had closed up like a clam. Asked him where all the places were that he was going to show me, and he informed me I had seen twenty-five cents" worth. Then I was ruffled. I admit I was ruffled. I stood up, took him by the collar, and agitated him a little. The agitation shook some of the dust out of his clothes. Then I got out and permitted him to proceed. I"ve been sitting here meditating, and if you don"t walk too fast I think I"ll stick by you until you get through seeing things."
The manner in which Browning related this was decidedly amusing, and all laughed over it.
They followed the walk, and proceeded on their way toward the upper end of the island. Near the upper end they approached three small islands, known as the Three Sisters. A ma.s.sive anch.o.r.ed bridge permitted them to cross to the first of these islands. Beneath this bridge the water swept with a continuous rushing roar, and the sight of it gave Elsie a renewed feeling of nervousness, which was increased by the fact that the great bridge swayed and moved beneath their feet.
Having crossed by other bridges to the outermost of the Three Sisters, they now obtained a near and awe-inspiring view of the great rapids above the Canadian Falls.
At a distance up the river the water seemed pouring over a great semi-circular ridge. It swept down on the Three Sisters as if seeking to overwhelm them. It tore past on either side with the velocity of an express train, hissing and snarling in anger because the islands dared defy and withstand its furious a.s.sault.
Elsie stood with clasped hands, her eyes dilated, as she stared at the rapids which stretched far, far away to the Canadian side.
"Isn"t it grand!" cried Inza in Elsie"s ear, her face flushed and her dark eyes shining.
"It"s grand," admitted the golden-haired girl; "but it"s terrible, and it frightens me."
The little party had divided, seeking various vantage points from which views of the great rapids could be obtained.
Frank and Bart lingered with the girls.
Mrs. Medford had remained on Goat Island, declining to cross the first bridge, and a.s.serting that she preferred to rest on one of the benches.
She refused to permit any one to remain with her, urging and commanding them all to see everything worth seeing.
"A human being would have absolutely no chance if ever caught in the edge of that current," said Hodge. "The instant he was swept off his feet he would be doomed."
"It"s fascinating, fascinating!" exclaimed Inza. "I almost seem to feel something pulling me toward the water."
"It"s a very dangerous feeling," smiled Merry. "You know that an average of sixteen suicides a year take place here at the falls. People cannot resist the fascination of the rushing water. Many times no real reason can be given for these acts of self-destruction. You know there are moments when every human brain falters and seems touched by the fleeting finger of insanity. People who stand on great heights often feel an almost irresistible longing to fling themselves down. Here they are attacked by a mad longing to cast themselves into the clutch of the rapids."
"Oh!" exclaimed Elsie, pale to the lips. "Let me get away--farther away!"
Inza offered a.s.sistance, but Elsie forced a laugh and declared she was all right. However, she leaned on the arm of Bart, and they retreated from the immediate edge of the rapids.
Frank watched them, unaware that Inza had stepped out on a stone that lifted its damp crest in the edge of the water.
Suddenly he was startled by a cry.
He whirled, and saw something that sent his heart into his mouth.
Inza was lying across the rock, with both feet in the water.
A man in black, the cape of his long cloak flapping about his shoulders like demon wings, was running from the spot, flourishing a stout, crooked cane.
As he pa.s.sed Frank, fully fifteen feet away, the fleeing man--whom Merry knew as the same one who had so nearly accomplished Inza"s destruction on the Canadian sh.o.r.e--cast at the youth one piercing look.
The eyes of the man were black as blackest night, but in their recesses gleamed a baleful fire of hatred and triumph.
The same eyes had glared at Merry through the transom of the Bowery hotel, in New York.
They were the eyes of Alvarez Lazaro, the avenger!
But they were also the eyes of Porfias del Norte!
CHAPTER XXIX.