The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-07-20
CONTINUED
CHAPTER TX.
A RACE INTO THE NORTH.

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mWNsH his whip, and when How
WEID land turned to look back he
saw bright fare of light where the
other sledge had stopped. A mans
voice came from the farther gloom.
calling to Croisset in French.
'He tells me | am to take you on
alone" said Croisset after he had re-
piled to the words spoken in q 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 fire lit
space in the forest gloom. lie could
see man adding fuel TO the blaze
shadows Of the trees, an indistinct
tangle Of dogs and .sledpe As he
strained his eyes to discover more
there was a movement beyond the
figure over the FIRE and the young
Engineers heart leaped with q sudden
thrill. Croissets voice sounded in a
shrill 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 int
warm life again ut the knowledge thar
1t was Neleese who was trailing be-
hind them on the second sledge.
When you yell like that give me, a
little warning if you please, Jean" he
said. speaking as eoolly as though ne
had not recognized the cure that had
come for an instant IN the freight.
ut is enough TO startle The life out Of
one
1T is our way OF SAYING goodby,
m'seur, replied Crolsset. with fierce
snap Of his whip. "Hoo-la. ger along
there" he cried to Che dogs, and in
half dozen breaths the fire was lost
to view.
Dawn comes at about O'Clock ia
the northern midWinter. Beyond the
fftieth degree the first rudy haze Of
the sun begins to warm the southeast
ern skies at 8, and its glow had already
risen above the forests before Croisset
stopped his team again. For two
hours he had not spoken word to his
prisoner. and after several unavailing
efforts 10 break the others taciturnity
Rowland lapsed into silence OF his
own. When he had brought his tired
dogs to a halt Croisset spoke for the
first time.
I'VE are going to camp here for a
few hours" he explained. IF you will
pledge me your word of honor that you
will make no attempt to escape l will
give you the use of your legs until
after breakfast. m'seur. What do you
say?"
slave you Bible. Croisset?"
mo. m'seur. but have the cross Of
our Virgin. given to me by the mis-
S1OueT Ut L OEh IdclOTy.
''Then l will swear by it. I will
swear by all the crosses and all the
Bibles in the world that l will make
no effort to escape. ] am paralyZed.
Croisset. couldn't run for week."
Croisset was searching in his pock-
cts.
mon Dieu." he cried excitedly, II
have lost it! All, come to think, m'seur,
! gave the cross to my Mariane before
I went into the south. But will take
your word"
"And who is Mariane, Jean? Will
she also be in at the 'kill?'"
"Mariane is my wife. m'seur. All.
ma belle Mariane, ma cheri. the daugh-
ter Of an Indian princess and the
granddaughter of a chef de batail-
lon. mseur! Could there be better |
than that? And she is be-e-e-utiful,
m'seur. with hair like the top side Of
ravens wing with the sun shining |
on it, and
"You love her a great deal, JEAN"
"Next to the Virgin-and-it may be |
q little better"
Croisset had severed the rope about |
the engineers legs, and as he raised |
his glowing eyes Rowland reached out |
and put both hands on his shoulders. |
"And in just that way l love Me-
leese," he said softly. "Jean, won't |
you be my friend? i don't want to |
escape. I'm not coward Won't |
you think of what your Mariane might |
do and be a friend to me? You would
die for Mariane if it were necessary.
And would die for the girl back on |
that sledge."
He had staggered to his feet and
pointed into the forests through which
they had come.
II saw her in the freight, Jean.
Why is she following US? Why do
they want to XIII meT IF you would