The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-11-03
CHAPTER XIV
The Gleam of the Light.

In a single breath the face OF
Jean Croisset became no more
than a mask of what it had been
The haunting smile left his lips
and a gray pallor spread over his
face as he saw Howland's finger
crooked firmly on the trigger OF
his revolver. In another instant
there came the sound of metal
lie snap.
"Damnation! An empty cart
ridge!" Rowland exclaimed. 81
forgot to load after those three
shots at the cup. It's coming
this time, Jeani"
Purposely he snapped the Sec
ond empty cartridge.
"The great Cod" gasped Jean.
IN sour"
From deep in the forest came
again the baying of the Macken-
zie hound. This time it was
much nearer, and for a moment
Howland's eyes left the French
mans terrified face as he turned
his head to listen.
They are coming!" exclaimed
Croisset. M'seur, | swear to
Again Howland's pistol covered
his heart.
Then it is even more necessary
that l kill you" he said with
frightful calmness. Il warned you
that l would kill you if you led
me into a trap, Croisset. The
dogs are pushed. There is no way
out of this but to fight-if there
are people coming down the trail.
Listen to that"
This time, from still nearer,
came the shout of man, and then
of another, followed by the hus-
kies' yelping as they started
afresh on the trail. The flush of
excitement that had come into
Howland's face paled until he
stood as white as the Frenchman.
But it was not the wilderness of
fear. His eyes We're like blue
steel flashing in the sunlight.
There is nothing to do but
fight" he repeated, even more
calmly than before. "If we were
mile or two back there it could
all happen as l planned it. But
here"
They will hear the shots"
cried Jean. The post is no more
than gunshot beyond the forest
and there are plenty there who
would come out to see what it
means. Quick. M'seur-follow
me! Possibly they are hunters
going out to the trap-lines. If it
comes to the worst"
What them" demanded How
land.
You can shoot me a little lat
er," temporized the Frenchman
with a show of his old GOODNESS.
Mon Dieu, am afraid of that
gun, Nj seur. | will get you out
of this if ! can. viii you give
me the chance-or will you
shoot?"
Il will shoot-if you fail" re-
piled the engineer.
Barely were the words out of
his mouth when Croisset sprang
to the head of the dogs, seized the
leader by his neck-traCt and half
dragged the team and sledge
through the thick bush that edged
the trail. A dozen PAGES farther
on the dense scrub opened into
the clearer run of the low-hanging
banskian through which Jean
started at a slow trot, with How,
land yard behind him, and the
huskies following with human.
like clevernes in the sinuous twist.
ings of the trail which the
Frenchman marked out for them
They had progressed not more
than three hundred yards wher
there came to them for thirC
time the hallooing of voice
With a sharp "hup, hup," and {
low crack of his whip Jear
stopped the dogs.
THE Virgin be praised, but tina
is luck!" he exclaimed. "They
have turned off into another trai
to the east, M'seur. If they haC
come on to that break in the
bush where we dragged the sledgc
through" He shrugged hi.
shoulders with a gasp of relief
"Sacre, they would not be fool!
enough to pass it without wonder
ing"
Rowland had broken the breect
of his revolver and was replacing
the three empty cartridges will
fresh ones.
There will be no mistake mex
time" he said, holding out the
weapon. you were as near YOU
death a few moments ago as evel
before in your life, Croisset-anC
now for a little plain understand
ing between us. Until we stopped
out there | had some faith in you
Now l have none. / regard yol
as my worst enemy, and though
you are deuced near to you
friends l tell you that you wer,
never in a tighter box in you
life. If / fail in my mission here
you shall die. If others com,
along that trail before dark. ant
run us down, I will kill you. I'm
less you make it possible for m,
to see and talk with Meleese
will kill you. Your life hangs oil
my success; with my failure you