The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-08-16

after those three shots at the cup. It's
coming this time, Jeanw
Purposely he snapped the second
empty cartridge.
1.-THE great Gody' gasped Jean.
"M'seur''-
From deep in the forest came the
baying Of the Mackenzie hound. This
time it was much nearer, and for a
moment Howland's eyes left the
Frenchman's terrified face as he turned
hfs h-ud % listen.
''They are comingr'I exclaimed Crois-
set. "M'seur, swear to-
Again Howland's pistol covered his
heart
''Then it is even more necessary that
1 kill you." he said, with frightful
calmness. II warned you that 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 a man and then of an
other, followed by the huskies' sharp
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 whiteness of fear.
His eyes were like blue steel flashing
In the sunlight.
"There is nothing to do but fight" he
repeated, even more calmly than be-
fore. "If we were mile or two back
there it could all happen as planned
it. But here
''They will hear the Shots" cried
Jean. 1.-The post is no more than a
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 1t comes
to the worst
"What then?" demanded Rowland.
"You can shoot me a little later"
temporized the Frenchman, with a
show of his old GOODNESS. 'Mon Dieu,
I am afraid of that gun, m'seur.
will get you out Of this If can. Will
you give me the chance, or will you
shoot?"
II will shoot-if you fall" replied 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 trace and half dragged the
team and sledge through the thick
bush that edged the trail. A dozen
PAGES farther on the dense scrub open
ed into the clearer run of the low
hanging banskian through which Jean
yard behind him and the huskies
following with human-like cleverness
in the sinuous twistings of the trail
which the Frenchman marked out for
them. They had progressed not more
than 300 yards when there came to
them for a third time the hallooing Of
voice. With a sharp "hup-hup" and
a low crack Of his whip Jean stopped
the dogs.
1.-THE Virgin be praised, but that is
luck." he exclaimed. They have turn
ed off into another trail to the east,
m'seur.''
Rowland had broken the breech Of
his revolver and was replacing the
three empty cartridges with fresh ones.
@There will be no mistake next
time" he said, holding out the weap-
on. "You were as near your death a
few moments ago as ever before in
your life, Croisset-and now for a lit
tie plain understanding between us.
Until we stopped out there had some
faith in you. Now / have none. / re-
gard you as my worst enemy, and,
friends, tell you that you were never
in tighter box in your life. II I fail
in my mission here you shall die. If
others come along that trail before
dark and run us down will kill you.
Unless you make it possible for me to
see and talk with Meleese 1 will kill
you. Your life hangs on my success"
81 am glad that you changed your
mind, m'seur, and I will not tempt you
again. I will do the best that 1 cam"
said Jean. within an hour it will be
showing heavily" he affirmed. eff
they do not run across our trail by
that time, m'seur, we shall be safe"
He led the way through the forest
again, more slowly and with greater
caution than before. Half an hour
later the Frenchman halted where the
banskians climbed the side Of slop-
ing ridge.
'If you could trust me 1 would ask
to go on ahead" whispered Jean.
"This ridge shuts in the p'sin, m'seur,
md just over the top. of 1t is an old
cabin which has been abandoned for
many years. There is not one chance
in a thousand Of there being any one
there, though it is good fox ridge at
this season. From it you may see the
light in Meleese's window at night"
He did not stop to watch the effect
Of his last words. but began picking
his way up the ridge with the dogs
tugging at his heels. At the top he
swung sharply. between two huge
masses Of snow covered rock, and in