The Winslow mail., 1900-09-06

of the true state of affairs. Tom
showed him the Identification he had
brought from San Francisco, which re-
moved the last lingering doubt, but
their new acquaintance was determined
to take no chances. He maintained a
discreet silence in regard to the mine
and its exact location, declaring that
until his partner had seen and acknowl-
edged the party he was not liberty to
reveal any of the secrets.
At length Avery said, abruptly:
''But you are not going to Dyea now?
We have supplies enough here to feed
our party and you two besides for the
next ye2r. You must come back with
US. We 'ght to hurry as fast as we
can with those two scoundrels ahead
of us. They may catch Dick with the
papers they've got. How can he tell
but what they are all straight"
Tarbox chuckled grimly as he re-
Piled:
They won't find him. You'll under
stand better when you get there. Dick
will know the tallest galoot the mo-
ment he sets his eyes on him. We've
both seen him before. The sailor picked
out just the man to queer him with
Dick. If it wasn't for that might feel
little bit uneasy, but it's all right, 1
tell you. Dick Taylor is no tenderfoot.
We might as we'll camp for the night.
It'll soon be dark. If all this stuff is
grub there's enough to feed the whole
Klondike country"
He was firm in his refusal to pro-
ceed further that day, and, in fact, by
the time the loads had been removed
from the horses and the animals cared
for the sun had disappeared. The tents
were soon pitched and after supper
and friendly chat the entire party
stretched themselves on their rude
| couches and were soon asleep.
An early start was made the follow
ing morning, and, three days later, as
they reached the top of long hill, Tar
box pointed to a white cliff few miles
to the north and said:
There is where the trail branch
es off to our place. It's only about
25 or 80 miles then. We'd better
push ahead and see if we can't make it
before dark"
An hour later.they reached the land
mark. Tom could not see any sign of
a trail in the direction in which Tar
box turned his horses head, but after a
moment the latter pointed to Il spot
where the marks of hoofs were plainly
to be seen and said coolly:
Our two friends managed to find
their way, 1 see."
He had not uttered a threat against
the men who had tried to deceive him
but Tom felt certain there would be a
day of reckoning in the near future
There was an air of resolution about
their guide which is only gained by
contact with danger in its various
forms.
Push the horses aloug," said Tarbox
'We shanSt want all of them after to-
| day. Mebbe we shan't want them at all
We can't keep them where we are 60
ing"
But there's plenty of meat on their
| bones," said Tom.
I'VE won't need it."
Tarbox was apparently determined
not to explain himself and the subject
was dropped. Mile after mile was rap
! idly traversed, for the country was
comparatively open, and even the pack
| horses could trot at times. Still the
guide showed no sign of pausing, and
at last the sun was dipping behind the
horizon. Then he suddenly turned tc
the left around huge bowlder toward
which they had been travelling for some
time. and the rest saw directly in front
of them the SUBMITS of two lofty hills
the gorge between them being densely
wooded about half way up on either
side.
The tops were still crowned will
snow, upon which the setting sun shone
its crimson rays until they seemed
bathe6 in blood.