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The Barrier by Rex Ellingwood Beach
page 316 of 353 (89%)

"I'm beaten, Doret. You broke me to pieces. I need help--I--I'm
hurt."

"W'at you 'spec' I do wit' 'im?" the Canadian asked, and she
answered:

"I suppose we'll have to take him where he can get assistance."

"Dat skiff ain' carry all free of us."

"I'll stay here," groaned the frightened man. "I'll wait for a
steamer to pick me up, but for God's sake don't touch me again!"

Poleon looked him over carefully, and made up his mind that the man
was more injured in spirit than in body, for, outside of his
battered muscles, he showed no fatal symptoms. Although the voyageur
was slower to anger than a child, a grudge never died in him, and
his simple, self-taught creed knew no forgiveness for such men as
Runnion, cherished no mercy for preying men or beasts. He glanced
towards the wooded shores a stone's-throw above, then back at the
coward he had beaten and whose life was forfeit under the code.
There was a queer light in his eyes.

"Leave him here, Poleon. We'll go away, you and I, in the canoe, and
the first boat will pick him up. Come." Necia tugged at his wrist
for fear she might not prevail; but he was bent on brushing away a
handful of hungry mosquitoes which, warmed by the growing day, had
ventured out on the river. His face became wrinkled and set.

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