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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：
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The Fifth String
‘‘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 of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Fifth String by John Philip
Sousa
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