"Well, where shall it be?" asked another.
They looked about.
"See," cried the third. "See that old boiler down there at the
edge of the water? Why not put her in there? No one'll ever think
to look in such a place."
Down by the water's edge, where he pointed, lay a big boiler such
as is used on stationary engines, with its end lapped by the
waves. With a hasty expression of approval, the rough-neck picked
Elaine up bodily, still struggling vainly, and together they
carried her, bound and gagged, to the tank. The opening, which was
toward the water, was small, but they managed, roughly, to thrust
her in.
A moment later and they had rolled up a huge boulder against the
small entrance, bracing it so that it would be impossible for her
to get out from the inside. Then they drove off hastily.
Inside the old boiler lay Elaine, still bound and gagged. If she
could only scream! Someone might hear. She must get help. There
was water in the tank. She managed to lean up inside it, standing
as high as the walls would allow her, trying to keep her head
above the water.
Frantically, she managed to loosen the gag. She screamed. Her
voice seemed to be bound around by the iron walls as was she
herself. She shuddered, The water was rising--had reached her
chest, and was still rising, slowly, inexorably.
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