The Portland daily press., 1892-10-08

would undertake the journey.
Moreover, the captain had a grave sug-
picion that the native carriers might
have fed into the interior with the mail
bag, for strangely enough the missing
meu were brothers.
This suspicion, however, was of the
vaguest, for what possible motive could
two ignorant natives have for stealing
lot of worthless letters and fleeing into
an almost uninhabited desert?
Before day broke on the following
morning Luke Mowbray slipped secretly
and noiselessly out Of Vladivostok, and
turned westward toward the pine
crowned ridges Of the Silzota range.
FIe rode the commandments horse and
wore huAe pair of boots the Russian
had lent him. Before him on the saddle
rested the mail bag, and in his right
hand he carried a loaded revolver,
ready for instant use.
1t was broad daylight when he crossed
the plain and rode into the mountains.
He had little fear Of losing his way, for
CAPTAIN Shanoff had impressed the road
carefully upon his mind, and to further
aid him the trees were marked with an
ak at short intervals.
Luke was troubled with no misgiv-
ings as his horse slowly picked his way
over the frozen ground. He was one OF
those adventurous fellows who roam the
world over seeking out strange places
and untrodden paths, and he was keenly
enjoying this little Siberian excursion.
Captain Shanoff had truly declared
the road to be bad. For ten miles it led
up and down hill, over stones and fallen
trees, and more than once Luke hadsto
dislnount and lead the horse over some
unusually bad spot.
About noon he reached the top of the
highest ridge and made a brief halt for
lunch. The valley below him was
thickly wooded and was deep and mar
row. The road led through it for seven
or eight miles, and then, the captain had
said, it crossed q gap in the mountains
at a point only three miles distant from
the mining camp.
1t had suddenly grown colder, and the
air was keen and biting as Luke rode
slowly down the mountain side. The
valley was wild and desolate, and Luke
had to admit to himself as he spurred on
his horse that it was a very uncomforta-
BILE bit of country.
For the first time in his recollection
strange feeling of uneasiness crept grad
ualIy over him, and he tried in vain to
shake off its influence. To make mat
tiers worse, a fine snow began to come
down and the sky grew dark and gloomy.
Luke was by no means superstitious,
but the idea now took firm possession of
him that some great peril was approach
ing, and for a moment he wished that
he had not volunteered for such an I'M
certain piece of business. Then he grew
angry with himself.
"What nonsense!'' he cried half aloud.
And whipping up his horse he gal
Hoped at swifter pace up the valley,
skimming over the crusted snow, and
leaping over rocks and bushes until the
forest dwindled to the edge of a clear
ing, long, low bit of ground, undu-
lated with hillocks of drifted snow.
On the very edge his horse stopped and
shifted the air uneasily. Then he dashed
forward with start, almost unseating
his rider.
On the frozen ground was some dark
object, and as Luke with difficulty
pulled his horse up short he saw, with
thrill of horror, that it was a mail bag
similar to the one he carried.
1t was lying half under the snow, and
as he dismounted and tried to pull it
loose he discovered dark red stains on
the frozen crest. Horror stricken, he
stood still in amazement, forgetting to
pull the bag loose, when suddenly the
horse pricked up his ears and began to
tremble violently.
With sudden impulse Luke threw
himself back into the saddle on the in
slant, for far in the rear came a long,
mournful howl that trembled and died
away.
The mystery was solved.
Like a flash Luke realized the fate of
the two mail carriers-a fate that might
ere long be melted out to him, for the
howl he heard was the cry of hungry
wolves. Again and again it rose on the
wintry air, louder and more savage. AL
ready they scented their prey.
Driving the spurs deep Luke flashed
up the valley at blind and furious
pace.
He knew too well the nature of his
foes. The commandant had assured
him that no wild animals frequented
that part of the country. So much the
worse. The hungry brutes had been
driven by starvation toward the coast,
and having no doubt devoured the two
natives they had taken up their habita-
ton in the valley.
" Soon the howl was repeated and taken
up on each side until the forest rang
with their doleful sounds.
They gradually came closer, though
the brave horse was laundering onward
with all his strength. A little while
longer and he might be saved, for al
ready di1nly through the trees Luke
could see the break in the mountains.
The forest became more open, and
once, turning half around i'll the saddle,
he saw the dusky forms leaping through
the bushes A terrific howl told on1v