The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-31
Chapter XIV.
THE ESCAPE.


"Saggtto,' said Aneeb. "No ono else has
come to guard this side. Now the smoke
hangs low. Come and see.'
The voice sounded through a curtain of
smoke Frank released Alice, slipped the
knife into it's case, and CROPPED his way to
Aneebs Looking out the crack Of the door,
he that the smoke Of the fire, before a
little breeze, dropped to the snow just beyond
the cabin and swept along it's surface. Fifty
feet away nothing could be seen.
Aneeb laid hand his arm. The young
man turned from the daylight and the
eyes Of the chief cleaning in the dusk.
Listen" said Aneeb. This is the end.
For me there Is no escape But since the door
is here and no Chippewa stands in the path,
for you and the white girl is way
Speak" said Francis.
II can run few steps" said Aneeb. 'No
more Is necessary. Take you the toboggan
and on It put the maiden. We will open the
door. rush out and shout; l go around the
corner, toward them. When they looking
at me, shooting, you run straight away, into
the smoke" ~
Another piece Of the roof fell and burned
upon the floor. The flames lit up the scene.
Frank looked at vhe girl, then seized the
chiefs hand. my brother!'
Get you ready" said Aneeb his whole
aspect exalted. Send the girl to me-
Alice wen. to the chief and knet. Frank
freed the toboggan from it's load of wood,
brought in against the siege. He put Alice
on the sledge, and supported the chief to the
door. Let me stand alone" said Aneeb.
The Indian stood erect and cast his glance
on the bodies In the hut. His father, his
mother, his son-he eyed all three. Then he
gave his hand to Aliee-she kissed it; gave it
to Frank-he pressed 1t; raised his gun and
looked at the printing 'Do not forget HE, "
hesaid, and opened the door. They saw him
hobble out. to the left, and heard the peal
Of his warwhcop.
The Chippewa broke In upon him with yells
and shots. From the murk Of the cabin Frank
stepped into the open and ran straight ahead.
the toboggan sliding behind No shot fol
lowed, no foot sped behind. Fifty feet, and
the smoke swallowed them up.
At the end Of 200 yards, once more in clear
air. Frank stopped and looked back All was
silent beyond the curtain Of smoke "Aneeb
is dead he said. "The Chippewa watch the
cabin" He started again. The toboggan
rubbed out the track of his feet, hut left
its own trail in the snow.
He saw 1t, and knew what to do: The
moose had taught him. He ran for three
miles, ever straight, ever with speed. Then
he fetched a curve back, and approached his
trail from the side. He took his position al
the top of long Slope, put Alice behind
tree, and gave into her hand his knife al
I fall" he said
II know" she answered firmly 81 will not
fail"
He went little nearer the trail and waited
concealed. looking back along the path. How
many would come? Two, or three?
They had not long to wait. Fifteen, twenty
minutes; then she heard his voice, full Of
satisfaction. "Only one is coming
One Indian lean and light, he saw fitting
in and out among the trees, following the
trail. 1t was not the Panther. Frank notet
the splendid mechanism of his pace and ever
grimly admired. The savage came fast, his
eager eyes glaIcing ahead. fierce smile dis
tortng his painted visage. Frank waited
composed and sure, raised and pointed his
gum and fired when the Indian was close
Without cry the savage leaped high ant
fell, crushing the frozen snow. Frank leaned
his gun against the tree and drew his hanger
Then be heard rush Of feet behind him
and Alee's voice CT terror: "Bewarey'
BY instinct he turned and leaped aside. HI
saw the triumphant face of tho Pan thcrs s
leveHed gun and a leapng fame. He Eel
blow on his side but raised his hanger ant
sprang forward. Dropping the gun the Panther
fell on his knee, and while he felt for his
knife with one hand raised his other arm e
guard his head.
The upraised hand leaped from the arm