Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-08-11
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CHAPTER TX.
A RACE INTO THE NORTH.

CHAPTER TX.
A RACE INTO THE NORTH.
"l IL went to the dogs. stirring
Ln them up with the cracking Of
UH{E1 his whip. and when How
land turned to look back he
saw q 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 I am to take you on
alone" said Croisset after he had re-
piled to the words spoken in patois
which Rowland could not understand.
'They viii Join US again very soon."
''Theyv exclaimed Rowland. "HOw
many will It take to kill me. my dear
Croisset?''
The half breed smiled down into bis
face again.
''YOu may thank the blessed Virgin
that they are with u.s." he replied
softly, III you have any hope outside
Of heaven. m'seur. it is on that sledge
behind"
Az he went again to the dogs,
Strengthening the leader In his traces.
Rowland stared back Mt the FIRE lit
space In the forest gloom. He could
see man adding fuel to the blaze
and beyond him. sbrouded in the deep
shadows Of the trees. an indistinct
tangIe of dogs and sIedge. As he
strained his eyes to discover more
there was movement beyond the
figure over the fire. and the young
engineers heart leaped with sudden
thrill. Croisset's voice sounded in
shrill shout behind him. and at that
warning cry in French the second
figure sprang back into the gloom. But
Rowland had recognized II. and the
chilled blood in his veins leaped into
warm life again at the knowledge that
1t was Meleese who was trailing be-
hind them on the second sledge.
when you yell like that give me
little warning n you please. Jean" he
said. speaking as coolly as though be
had not recognized the figure that had
come for an instant into the flrelight.
1T is enough to startle the life out Of
one" 4
1T is our way OF saying goodby.
m'seur." replied Croisset, with fierce
snap Of his whip. "Hoo-la. get along
therev' he cried to the dogs. and in
half q dozen breaths the fire was lost
to view.
Dawn comes at about 8 O'clock in
the northern midwinter. Beyond the
fiftieth degree the first ruddy haze Of
the sun begins to warm the southeast
ern skies at 0. and its glow had already
risen above the forests before Croisset
stopped his team again. For two
hours he had not spoken word to bis
prisoner. and after several unavailine
efforts to break the others taciturnity
Rowland lapsed into silence Of bis
own. When he had brought bis tired
dogs to . halt Croisset spoke for the
first time.
I'VE are going to camp here for a
few hours" he explained. III you will
pledge me your word Of honor that you
will make no attemr: to escape will
give you the use Of your legs until
after breakfast. m'seur. What do you
sayT'
'Have you Bible. Croissetf' \
mo. m'seur. but l have the cross Of
our Virgin. given to me by the mis-
sioner at York factory"
"Then will swear by It, will
swear BY all the crosses and all tho
Bibles In the world that will make
no effort to escape. ! am paralyxed.
Croisset couldn't run for week"
CrOisset was searching in his p0ck-
eta.
mon Dieu," he cried excitedly. II
have lost 1t! An. come to think, m'seur.
I gave the cross to my Mariane before
I went into the south. But will take
your word"
"And who is Mariane. Jean7 Will
she also be In at the 'kill1'"
"Mariane IL my wife. m'seur. All.
ma belle Mariane. mn cheri. the daugh-
ter Of an Indian princess and the
granddaughter Of chef de batail-
Ion. m'seur! Could there be better
than thaty And she Is be-e-e-utiful.
m'seur. with hair ike the top side of
. ravens wing with the sun shining
on II, and
''You love her 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 love Me-
leese." he said softly. Jean. won't
you be my friend? l don't want to
escape I'm not coward. Won't
you think Of what your Mariane might
do and be friend to me? You would
die for Mariane II 1t 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 kill me? If you would
only give me q chance to prove that
It Is all q mistake-that r.
Cr0isset reached out and took his
hand.
"M'seur. I would like to help you."
he interrupted. II liked you that night
We came In together from the fight on
the trail. have liked you since. And
vet, II I was in their place. I would
kill you even though like you. 1t is
a great duty to kill you. They did not