The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13
pred to stretch IT more

effort, he endeavored to stretch It more
and more.
He watched the trail hungrily. and
, when in the direction OF Sixty-nile a
. dark speck appeared for moment
against the white background Of an
ice jam he cast an anxious eye at the
sun. 1t had climbed nearly to the
zenith. Now and again he caught the
black speck clearing the hills Of ice and
. sinking into the intervening hollows,
but he dared not permit himself more
than the most cursOry glances for fear
OF rousing his enemys suspicion. Once
when Jacob Kent rose to his feet and
. searched the trail with care Cardegee
was frightened, but the dog sled had
struck a piece Of trail running parallel
. with jam. and remained out Of sight
till the danger was past.
''I'll see you 'ung for this" Cardegee
threatened, attempting to draw the
others attention. AN you'll rot In
ell, jes' you see If you don't.
IT say" he cried. after another pause;
start made him sure Of his ground. and
he went on: Now ghost as the right
to aunt a man wot don't do wot he
says; and you can't shifie me on till
eight 5bells-wot I mean is u o'clock
can you? Cos II you do, it'u 'appen as
'ow III aunt you Dye ear? A min
ute, a second too quick. an III aunt
you, so 'elp me, Will"
Jacob Kent looked dubious, but de-
clined to talk.
lows your chronometerf Wot'B
your longitude? 'Ow do you know as
your times correct?" Cardegee persist
ed, vainly hoping to beat his execu-
toner out OF a few minutes ''Is It Bar
racks time you ave, or is 1t the COM
pany time? Cos II you do It before
the stroke o. the bell. I'll not rest I
give you fair warnin'. III come back
An II you 'aven't the time, 'ow Will
will you tell?'
''I'u send you OF all right" Kent re-
piled. "Got sun-dial here"
mo good. Thirty-two degrees varia-
ton o. the needle"
Stakes are all set.'
low did you set emf Compass8''
mo; lined them up with the North
Star"
"Sure?"
Sure"
Cardegee groaned, then stole a glance
at the trail. The sled was just clearing
a rise, barely a mile away, and the
dogs were in full Iope, running lightly.
"'Ow close Is the shadows to the
Iine?"
Kent walked to the primitive time
piece and studied it. Three inches,"
he announced. after a careful survey.
Say. jes' sing out eight bells afors
you pull the gun, viii yOu?"
Kent agreed and they lapsed into
silence. The throngs about Cardegee's
wrists were slowly stretching. and he
had begun to work them over his
hands.
Say. 'ow close is the shadows?"
zone inch"
The sailor wriggled slightly to assure
himself that he would topple over at
the right moment. and slipped the first
turn over his hands.
"'Ow closer"
Half an inch"
Just then Kent heard the Jarring
churn of the runners and turned his
eyes to the trail The driver was lying
down the straight stretch to the cabin.
Kent whirled back, bringing his rifle
to shoulder.
"It amt eight bells yeti" Cardegee
expostulated. "I'n aunt you. sure
Jacob Kent falteTed. He was stand
ing by the sun-dial. perhaps ten PAGES
from his victim. The man on the sled
must have seen that something un-
usual was taking place, for he had
risen to his knees, his whip singing
viciously among the dogs.
The shadows swept into line. Kent
looked along the sights.
Make ready" he commanded SOL
emnIy. Eight D.
But Just a fraction Of a second too
soon, Cardegee rolled backward into
the hole. Kent held his fire and ran
to the edge. BangI The gun exploded
full in the sailors face as he rose to
his feet. But no smoke came from the
muzzle; instead, a sheet Of flame burst
from the side Of the barrel near It's butt
and Jacob Kent went down. The dogs
dashed up the bank, dragging the sled
over his body, and the driver sprang
OF as Jim Cardegee freed his hands
and drew himself from the hole.
"Jim!" The newcomer recognized
him. What's the matter?'
''Wot's the matter? Oh, nothink at
all. It jest 'appens as do little things
like this for my 'ealth. Wot's the mat
ter. you bloomin' idjit? Wot's the mat
ter, eh? Cast me loose. or I'll show
you wot! 'Urry up, or III 'olystone the
decks with you."
'Huh." he added, as the other went
TO work with his sheath knife. 'Wot's
the matter? I want to know. Jes' tell
me that, viii you, wot's the matter?
Hey?"
Kent was quite dead when they rolled
him over. The gun, an old-fashioned,
heavy-weighted muzzle loader. lay near
him. Steel and wood had parted com
pany. Near the butt of the right-hand
barrel with lips pressed outward