Putnam patriot., 1911-10-27

We Will save day by doing this" explained Croisset at the others | sharp word of inquiry. "we will hit the 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 a hundred which you have depends on this, m'seur. If the other sledge has passed''- He shrugged his shoulders and start ed the dogs into trot.
 Look here." cried Rowland. run hing beside him. "Who is with this other sledge?"
 Those who tried to kill you on the trail and at the coyote. m'seur," he l answered quickly.
 Rowland fell half a dozen paces 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, elanciug back over the loping backs of the huskies, caught him smll- ing. He ran more frequently now, and longer distances. and with the passing of each mile his determlna- ton to strike decisive blow increas- cd If they reached the trail of Me
 eeSe and Jackpine before the cross ing of the second Sledge he would lie
 n wait for his old enemies If they had preceded them he would pursue md surprise them in camp. In either rase 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 a tunnel or a bridge he drew a mental map of his scheme and it's possibilities. There would be at least two men with the sledge and possi- bly, three. If they surrendered at the point of his rifle without 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 rifles. which 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 banskian 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.
 "That is a bit of the barren lands that creeps down between those noun tains off 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 Is the break that leads into the country of the Athabasco. Somewhere between this point and that we will strike the trail. Mon Dieu, had half expected to see them out there on the plain"
 "who? Meleese and Jackpine, or'-
 "No: the others, m'seur. Shall we have dinner heref'
 Not until we hit the trail" replied Rowland. Pm anxious to know about that one chance in hundred you've given me hope of, Croisset. If they have passed"-
 .tIf they are ahead of us you might inst as well stand out there and let
 me put a bullet through you, mseur.
 He went to the head of the dogs. .didine them down the rough side oi In. ridge while Rowland steadied the
 .I,ocgan from behind. In small
 .ren space free of bush Croisset s
 aIce rose sharply and the team stopped ..,
 ..Wbst do you think of it. m'seur 7
 he cried pointing to the snow. " nat to you think of thatF'
 Rarely cutting into the edge or the ,nen was the broken crust or two
 sle,lge trails. Croisset had fallen on his knees in the trail.
 "The crust is freshly broken De said after moment. They nave been gone not less than two or three bours. perhaps since morning. see ,bis white glislenlng surface over the sr..t trail m'seur. like a billion needle aoints growing out of it? That is the
 .ors of three or four days cold The 1 first sledge passed that long ago.
 Howland turned and picked up eros,
 sat's rife. The Frenchman watcneo him as he slipped clip full or car | ridges into the breech.
 ..1f there's a snack of cold stun ID tho mack dig it out he eommahoeu-
 ..We'Il eat on the run if you've go'
 onvtbine to eat. If you haven't well
 ~a hungry. We're going to oyertake fbat sledge some time this afternoon or tonight-or bust"
 "The saints be blessed. then we are most certain to bust. m'seur! easpeu Iean And if we don't the dogs VIII Non. it is impossiblef
 | .Is there anything to eatf "A morsel of cold meat; that IS ar Rnt I say that it is impossible na' | sledce"-
 uowlapd interrupted him with an | impat tient gesture. .h,,c And l say that if there IS any -l,'',, eH,l's to eat in there get il out and be qufA
 about it, Croisset. We're going 10 oxel w ! tate those precious friends or yours 1 and warn you that if you make any any l aho ,o iose time something m | alteIlllL v I-r,dar