The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-11-03
THE DANGER TRAIL ]
Copyright 1910. BobbsMerrn Company
JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD|
(continued.)

(continued.)
Croisset- leaned down with his
black eyes cleaning like Goals.
do you know what l would do
If was her, M'seur?" he said in a
low voice, and yet one filled with
a threat which stilled the words OF
passion which the engineer was on
the point of uttering. do you
know what would do? would
kill you-kill you inch by inch
torture you. That is what would
do"
For Gods sake, Croisset, tell me
why-why-
Croisset had found Howland's
pistol and freed his hands, and the
engineer stretched them out en-
treatingly.
II would give my life for that
girl, Corisset. told her SO back
thereC, and she came to me when
| was in the snow and He
caught himself. adding to what he
had left incomplete. There is a
mistake Croisset. l am not the
man they want to kill!
Croisset was smiling at him
lagaip.
"Smoke-and think. M'seur. 1t
Is impossible for me to tell you
why you should be dead-but. you
ought to know, unless your memory
| is shorter than a child's."
He went to the dogs, stirring
them up with the cracking or his
whip, and when Rowland turned
! to look back he saw bright flare
of light where the other sledge had
stopped. A mans voice came from
the farther gloom, calling to Crois,
set in French.
/ He tells me am to take you
on alone" sad Croisset, after ne
had replied to the words spoken in
a patois which Rowland could not
/ understand. They will join US
again very soon."
| "They!" exclaimed Rowland.
How many will it take to kill me.
my dear Croisset?"
The half-breed smiled down into
his face again.
| You may thank the Blessed
Virgin that they are with u.s." he
replied softly. IF you have any
hope outside of Heaven, M'seur. It
Is on that sledge behind
AS he went again to the dogs,
Strengthening the leader in his
traces. Rowland stared back at the
firelit space in the forest gloom.
He could see a man adding fuel to
the blaze, and beyond him. shroud-
ed in the deep shadows of the trees
an indistinct tangle of dogs and
sledge. AS he strained his eyes to
| discover more there was move
ment beyond the figure over the
fire and the young engineers
heart leaped with a sudden thrill.
Croisset's voice sounded in shriIl
shout behind him, and at that
warning cry in French the second
figure sprang back into the gloom,
But Rowland had recognized it,
and the chilled blood In his veins
leaped into warm life again at the
knowledge that it was Meleese
who was trailing behind them on
the second sledge! $50.
when you yell like that give
me little warning If you please,
Jean" he said. speaking as coolly
as though he had not recognized
the figure that had come for all
instant into the freight. 1T rs
enough to startle the life out of
one!"
ut Is our way of saying good-by.
tM'seur," replied Croisset with a
fierce snap of his whip. "Hoo-la,
get along there" he cried to the
dogs. and In half dozen breaths
the fire was lost to view.
i Dawn comes at about 8 O'Clock
In the northern mid-winter: be-
yond the flftieth degree the first
rudy haze of the sun begins to
warm the southeastern skies al
nine. and It's glow had already ris
en- above the forests before Crois
set stopped his team again. Fol
two hours he had not spoken
word to his prisoner and after sew
eral unavailing efforts to break the
others taciturnity Rowland lapsed
into silence Of his own. When
he had brought his tired dogs to q
halt, Croisset spoke for the first
time.
I'VE are going to camp here fol
few hours" he explained. I'll
you will pledge me your word Of
honor that you will make no at
tempt to escape | will give you ths
use OF your legs until after break
fast. M'seur. What do you say
II "Have you Plble. Croisset?"
4 ~. ~~--.