The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-07-27
Y Nk1ER


anything to eat. IL you haven't we'll
go hungry. We're going to overtake
that sledge some time this afternoon
or tonight-or .bust!''
1.-THE saints be blessed. then we are
most certain to bust. m'seur" gasped
Jean. "And II we don't the dogs will
Non. 1t is impossiblew
Els there anything to .eatT
"A morsel of cold meat: that is all.
But say that 1t ts impossible. That
sledge"-
Rowland interrupted him with an
impatient gesture.
"And say that If there Is anything
to eat In there get 1t out and be quick
about 1t. Croisset. We're going to over
take those precious friends Of yours.
and warn you that IL you make any
attempt to lose time something I'M.
pleasant is going to happen Under
stand t. x.
Jean had bent to unstrap one end of
the sledge pack and an angry fash
leaped into his eyes at the threatening
tone Of the engineers voice For
moment he seemed on the point Of
speech. but caught himself and in ST.
lence divided the small chunk Of meat
which he drew from the pack, giving
the larger share to Rowland as, he
went to the head Of the dogs. Only
once or twice during the next hour did
he look back. and after each of these
glances he redoubled his efforts at
urging on the .huskies. Before they
had come to the edge of the black
banskian forest which Jean had point
ed out from the farther side of the
plain Rowland saw that the pace was
telling on the team. The leader was
trailing lame. and now and then the
whole pack would settle back in their
traces. to be urged on again by the
fierce cracking Of Croisset's long whip.
To add to his own discontinue How
land found that he could no longer
keep up with Jean and the dogs. and
with his weight added to the sledge
the huskies settled down to a Juggling
walk.
Thus they came into the deep. low
forest. and Jean. apparently oblvious
of the exhaustion of both man and
dogs. walked now in advance of the
team, his eyes constantly on the thin
trail ahead At last the engineer jump
ed from the sledge and overlook his
companion.
Hold on. Jean!" he cried I've
got enough You're right, and | want
to apologize. We're busted-that is.
the dogs and | are busted-and we
might as well give it up until we've
had feed. What do you say?"
Il say that you have stopped just in
time. m'seur," replied Croisset with
purring softness. Another half hour
and we would have been through the
forest. and just beyond that-in the
edge of the plain-are those whom you
seek, Meleese and her people. That is
what | started to tell you back there
when you shut me up. Mon Dieu. If
it were not for Meleese | would let
You 60 on And then-what would
happen then, m'seur. if you made your
visit to them in broad day? Listen!'
Jean lifted warning hand. Family
there came to them through the forest
the distant baying of hound.
THAT is one of our dogs from the
Mackenzie country" he went on softly.
an insinuating triumph in his low
voice Now. m'seur. that | have
brought you here what are you going
to do? Shall we go on and take dinner
with those who are going TO kill you.
or will you wait few hours? Eth.
which shall it be?''
For moment Rowland stood mo-
| tionless. stunned by the Frenchman's
words Quickly he recovered himself
His eyes burned with metallic CLEAN
as they met the half taunt In Croisset's
cool smile.