The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1906-10-02


dogs running straight ahead, was mis-
led and ran SO close to the open wa
ter that he barely had room In which
to swing to one side. AS he turned
Picard's warning: DON" rang out,
but It was useless, for red-hot
snake coiled across his eyes, and
Black Henris exultant oath roared in
his ears Springing away from the
sting of the whip, Don landed fairly
into the open water, dragging the
rest of the team and the sledge after
him.
Even before Picard realized the
clever trap into which Black Henri
had drawn him he was f1oundering
in the water. An exciting moment
passed, during which Picard heard a
loud pop in the rear that mingled
with the baf1led yell of the man who
had tried to lure him to destruction.
He couldn't look back, for Don had
his forefeet planted upon firm ice on
the other side of the sunken section,
and he would need to be steadied.
The dog knew his master and
mates were behind helpless, de-
pending upon his efforts alone to save
them, Now was the time to show
his worth-the mettle of his race. He
took one swift rearward glance; saw
the anxious face of his master speak
ing encouragingly with only his head
out of the cold grip of the Macken-
zie; his faithful followers founder
ing, yelping and spashing at his
heels. Then he knew his work-he
had heard the battle call before. A
quick breath, and his strong Shout
ders shot into the collar with an inn
pact that Strengthened every trace in
the line. His claws sunk in and his
hold held, while his powerful neck
bent slowly down in the strain till his
sensitive nose just touched the ice
under him.
DOM" steady voice fell upon his
ears. Easy" finished the COM
mand. And the veteran leader un-
derstood, for he held what he had
gained and waited patiently with set
muscles. At last when he was all but
slipping the strain eased and he
moved forward and up. The dog be-
hind him secured foothold. One Sec
ond more and the anxious man was
yanked from the icy clutch of the
black water. Picard rested his
chilled hand upon the dripping head
of the faithful leader.
Don, min bon chein," he MUIR
INJURED, gratefully The animal
wagged his tail and barked, then
shook shower of spray from his
wet coat as though the matter were
dismissed
Picard turned to see what had be.
come of his enemy. Ten rods to the
right Black Henri's dog team was
just getting out onto firm ice But
Black Henri himself was groveling
upon a tottering ice cake ringed
round with silent, mysterious water
He shook his horny fist at Picard, and
the cake slanted with the motion.
The man tried desperately to right
his ice raft, but in vain, for it tipped
more and more until at last unable to
retain his hold, the miserable man,
with a furious oath, slipped slowly
into the black embrace of the Mack
enzie. The ragged edge of the ice
came down, and the opposite side
rose high in the air with loud
swash, then toppled back again just
as Black Henri's head came to the
surface In the eddy directly beneath
the descending chunk Down came
the massive cake with a terrific
splash, and the great north was for
ever rid of hated pirate and cheat
Black Henri had reached the end of
his last trail
Copyright. 1906, by Daily Story Pub. Coz