, 1911-09-14

NV "Sah -
cheerful voice as he stepped inside.
SIS 1t possible you are not up. with all
this dog barking and
His eyes had gone to the empty
bunk. Despite his cheerful greeting
Rowland saw that the Frenchman's
face was haggard and pale as he turn.
ed quickly toward him. He observed no
funher than that. but flung his whole
weight on the u~nprepared Croisset. and
together they crashed to the door.
There was scarce a struggle and Jean
lay still. He was fat OF his back. his
arms pinioned to his sides. and bring
ing himself astride the Frenchman's
body 8 % that each knee imprisoned an
arm Rowland coolly began looping
the babeesh thongs that he had snatch
ed from the table as he sprang to the
door. Behind Howland's back Jeans
legs shot suddenly upward. In a quick
choking clutch of steel-like muscle they
gripped about his neck like powerful
arms. and in another instant he was
twisted backward with a force that
sent him half neck broken to the op-
posite wall. He staggered to his feet.
dazed for a moment, and Jean Croisset
stood in the middle Of the floor. his
caribou skin coat thrown of, his hands
clinched. his eyes d%arkening with a
dangerous fire. As quickly as 1t had
come the fire died away. and as he ad-
vanced slowly his shoulders hunched
over. his white teeth cleaning in a
smile. Rowland smiled back and ad-
vanced to meet him. There was NO
humor. no friendliness. in the smiles.
Both had seen that fash Of teeth and
deadly scintillation Of eyes at other
times. and both knew what 1t meant.
81 believe that ! will kill you.
m'seur." said Jean softly. There was
no excitement. no tremble of passion.
in his voice. II have been thinking
that l ought to kill you. 1 had almost
made up my mind to kill you when l
came back to this Maison de Mort
Rouge. 1t is the justice Of God that |
kill you!"
The two men circled like beasts in a
pit. Rowland in the attitude of a box
er. Jean with his shoulders bent. his
arms slightly curved at his side. the
toes Of his moccasined feet bearing his
weight. Suddenly he launched him-
self at the others throat.
In a flash Rowland stepped a little
to one side and shot out a crushing
blow that caught Jean on the side of
the head and sent him 1at on his
back. Half stunned. Croisset came to
his feet. 1t was the FIRST time that he
had ever come into contact with sci
anna ua -oo nnoxInH pfo hooI
rang. and for a few moments he was
dizzy. He darted in again in his old.
quick. catlike way and received a
blow that dazed him. This time he
kept his feet.
81 am sure now that l am going to
kill you. m'seur." he said as coolly as
before.
There was something terribly calm
and decisive in his voice. he was not
excited. BE was not afraid. His fin-
gers did not go a the weapons In
his belt. and slowly the smile faded
from Howland's lips as Jean circled
about him. He had never fought a
man Of this kind: v had he looked
on the appalling confidence that was
in his antagonists eyes. From those
eyes rather than from the man he
found himself slowly retreating. They
followed him. taking themselves
from his face. In them the fire re
turned and grew deeper. The dull
red spots began to glow in Croisset's
cheeks. and he laughed softly when he
suddenly leaped in SO that Rowland
struck at him-and missed. BE knew
what to expect now. And Rowland
knew what to expect.
It was the science Of one world pit
ted against that Of another-the SCI
ence Of civilization against that of the
wilderness Rowland was trained In
his art. For sport Jean had played
with wounded lynx. His was the quick
ness Of sight. Of instinct-the quick.
ness Of the great north loon that had
often played this same game with his
rife Gre. OF the sledge dog whose rip
ping fangs carried death so quickly
that eyes could not follow. A third
and a fourth time he came within
distance. and Rowland struck and
missed.
81 am going to kill you" he said
again
To this point Rowland had remained
cool. Self possession in his cience he
knew TO be half the battle. But he
felt in him now a slow. swelling anger.
The smiling flash in Jeans eyes began
to irritate him: the fearless, haunting
CLEAN of his teeth. his audacious con-
ldence put him on edge. Twice again
he struck ont swiftly. but Jean had
come and gone like a dart. His 1.-the
body. fifty pounds lighter than How
lands. seemed to be that OF a boy
lodging him in some tantalizing sport.
The Frenchman made no effort at at
tack. His were the tactics Of the wolf
af the heels of the bull moose. of the