Oxford Democrat., 1911-08-01
"1'M GOING no KILL Youls

anything to eat. II you haven't wen
60 hungry. We're going to overtake
that sledge some time this afternoon
or tonight-or bust!
"The saints be blessed, then we are
most certain to bust. m'seur! gasped
Jean. And If we don't the dogs will.
Non. It Is impossible"
''Is there anything to eat2"
"A morsel of cold meat; that is all.
But say that 1t is 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 II you make any
attempt to lose time something un-
pleasant is going to happen. Under
standT
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 a
moment he seemed on the point OF
speech, but caught himself and In 81
lence divided the small chunk OF meat
which he drew from the pack. giving
the larger share to Rowland as be
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 bis own discontinue How
land found that he could noflongef
keep up with Jean and the dogs. and
with his weight added to the sledgr
the huskies settled down to tugging
walk.
Thus they came into the deep. low
forest. and Jenn. apparently oblivious
of the exhaustion Of both man and
dogs. walked now In advance OF ths
team. his eyes constantly on the thir
trail ahead. At last the engineer jump
ed from the sledge and overlook his
companion.
"Hold on. Jean!'' he cried. "1vr
got enough. You're right, and l want
to apologize. We're busted-that Is.
the dogs and l are busted-and we
might as well give 1t up until we've
had a feed. What do you sayT
IT say that you have stopped Just IN
time. m'seur." replied Croisset witt
purring softness. Another half hour
and we would have been through the
forest, and Just beyond that-in the
edge of the plaln-are those whom you
seek. Meleese and her people. That Is
what l started to tell you back there
when you shut me up. Mon Dieu. II
1t were not for Meleese l would lei
you 20 on. And then-what would
happen then. m'seur. If you made your
visit to them in broad day7 Listenp
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 I have
brought you here what are you goinl
to do? Shall we 60 on and take dinner
with those who are going to kill you
or will you wait a few hoursi Eh
which shall It bel"
For a moment Rowland stood mo
tionless. stunned by the Frenchman's
words. Quickly he recovered himself
His eyes burned with metallic CLEAN
ls they met the half taunt In Croissst'i
cool smile.