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

1--WE got one of my own to love,
m'seur, and I wouldn't trade her for
all else in the world
81 can't understand you" cried the
engineer. "You appear to be half hui
man; you say you're in love, and yet
you'd rather risk your life than help
out Meleese and me. What the deuce
does it mean?' q
That's what I'm doing, m'seur-
helping Meleese 1 would have done
her q greater service If I had killed
you back there on the trail and strip
ped your body for those things that
would be foul enough to eat it.
have told you dozen times that 1t is
Gods justice that you die, and you
are going to die very soon, m'seur."
mo, I'm not going to die, Jean. I'm
going to see Meleese, and she's going
back into the south with me, and IL
you're real good you may have the
pleasure Of driving us back to the
wekusko, Croisset, and you can be my
best man at the wedding. What do
yeu say to that2"
"That you are'mad or fool" retorted
Jean. cracking his whip vicfously.
The dogs swung sharply from the
trail, heading from their southerly
course into the northwest.
1--WE will save day by doing this"
explained Croisset at the others
sharp word OF. inquiry. eve will hit
tho other trail twenty miles west Of
here, while by following back to
where they turned we would travel
sixty miles to reach the same point.
That one chance in hundred which
you have depends on this, m'seur. IT
the other sledee has passed.
He shrugged his shoulders and start
ed the dogs into a trot.
Look heee!" cried Rowland, run
ming beside him. "Who is with this
other sledgew
Those who tried to kill you on the
trail and at the coyote, m'seur," he
answered quickly.
Rowland fell half. dozen PAGES be-
hind. His heart leaped with Joyous
hope, and he leaned forward on the
sledge to examine Croisset's empty
gun. It was an automatic, and Crois-
set, glancing back over the Looping
backs Of the huskies, caught him smil-
ing. He ran more frequently now,
and longer distances, and with the
passing Of each mile his determine
ton to strike q decisive blow 1ncreas-
ed If they reached the trail Of Me-
leese and Jackpine before the cross
ing OF the second sledge he would lie
in wait for his old enemies. If they
- Al
and surprise them In camp. In either
case he would possess an overwhelm-
ing advantage. /.
With the same calculating attention
to detail that he would have shown in
the arrangement Of plans for the build
ing Of q tunnel or a bridge, he drew
q mental map Of his scheme and its
possibilities There would be at least
two men with the sledge and posi-
bly, three. II they surrendered at the
point Of his rife without a fight he
would compel Jean to tie them up with
dog traces while he held them under
cover. If they made a move to offer
resistance he would shoot With the
automatic he could kill or wound the
three before they could reach their
rides, witch would undoubtedly be ON
the sledge. The situation had now
reached a point where he no longer
took into consideration what these
men might be to Meleese.
As they continued into the north
west Rowland noted that the thicker
forest was gradually clearing into wide
areas Of small hanskian pine and that
the rock ridges and dense swamps
which had impeded their progress were
becoming less numerous. An hour be-
fore noon, after a tedious climb to the
top Of a frozen ridge, Croisset pointed
down into a vast level plain lying be-
tween them and other great ridges far
to the north.
'sThat is a bit of the barren lands
that creeps down between those noun
tains of there, m'seur." he said. do
you see that black forest that looks
like a charred log in the snow to the
south and west Of the mountains
That +, the break that leads into the
countrs of BE Athabasco. Somewhere
Iotween this point and that we will
strike the trail. Mon Dieu, j had half
expected to see them out there on the
plain"
"Who? Meleese and Jackpine, orr
"No: the others. m'seur. Shall we
have dinner hereY
Not until we hit the trail,'' replied
Rowland. I'm anxious to know about
that one chance in a hundred you've
given me hope of, Croisset. II they
have passed.
eff they are ahead Of us you might
Just as well stand out there and let
me put bullet through you, m'seur. /"
He went to the head of the dogs,
guiding them down the rough side of
the ridge, while Rowland steadied the
toboggan from behind. In small
open space free of bush Croisset's
voice rose sharply and the team
stopped.
"what do you think of it, m'seur?'
he cried, pointing to the snow. what
do you think of that?'
Barely cutting into the edge Of the
open was the broken crust Of two
eledge trails. Croisset had fallen on
. Eis knees in the trnil.
The crust is freshly hToken" IA
said after a moment. "They have
been gone not less than two or three
hours. perhaps since morning. See