The Irish standard., 1911-09-16
8s sBBy:i'sssss H. ISL: 4. Ns; ss;;Z, s. 81


FIRST glimpse Of the unknown land
where Captain Fielding had met his
Tragic fate SO many years before. Three
days since he had witnessed, from
aloft, the murder Of q man he might
nave saved, the man to whom, had
he saved him, he might have turned
for exoneration from a stain upon his
name which was now ineradicable.
Three days ago he had thought his
world was empty, swept clean Of hu-
man concern and human affection.
Three days ago no had not known that
Jeanne Fielding existed.
AS for the identity Of the monster
who had left the proof of his existence
IN those tracks which Philip had dis
covered in the snow, they Of course
had no certain knowledge; neverthe-
less, they entertained but little doubt
that he was Roscoe himself. The foot
prints were immense, Cayley said, and
their distance apart bespoke the stride
Of giant.
If it were Roscoe who had been
crouching there behind the boulder,
then 1t seemed to them unlikely that
he was here alone; unlikely that he
had not at least two or three Of his
crew with him.
That idea, when 1t first occurred to
them. brought little added terror with
1t. The person of the monstrous muir
derous rufflan, who was the chief,
dwarfed his subordinates to pygmies.
Yet when they came to think over the
situation, reasonably, this uncertainty
as to the number Of their enemy
proved vital element in 1t. 1t put
an unequivocal veto upon Cayley's
first plan, which was to start out at
once and take the aggressive against
their enemy, before he should have
time to move against them.
This bit Of beach where the hut
stood was practically fortified. The
cliff behind it was absolutely sheer,
and was capped with deep. perpetual
snow. Half a mile to the westward
was the prc-nontory, and about half
a mile up the beach from the hut, 70
the eastward. the glacier projected
its Ice masses in a long noe out to
seaward. This glacier provided the
only practicable means Of entrance to
the izterior valley and the ledge
where the gold was.
BY means Of large scale map, Cay.
ley pointed out to Jeanne this advan-
tage Of their position. $50 long as
we stick to this bit of beach," he said,
I'VE can't be rushed nor surprised. No
one can attack us without either COM
ing down the glacier at one end, or
around the promontory at the other.
From either direction they've got to
approach without cover. OF course
If there are a lot Of them, we sna'n't
have any chance. But it may be
there's only one, and It's likely that
there are not more than three"
"But at night" said the girl, at
night thsre1l be nothing to prevent
their coming a. close as they
please. They may be out there, not
a dozen yards away"
They're not doing much II they are.
We're securely barracaded here, and
they can't attempt to break in with
there are too many Of them we should
beat them at that game. No; the time
to look out for them 10 when we're
outside the hut, out on the beach do
ing the things we'll have to do-bring-
ing in frewood. looking for moro
game, and so on"
"Shall we have to do that7 Can't
we just stay in here, safer"
. 1.-THE daylight will answer that ques-
tion for me-" he said. I'VE must make
the most of 1t. A month from now
there'll be but little. We mustn't make
prisoners Of ourselves until the winter
does 1t for us. There is one thing,
though" he added thoughtfully after
little silence, lone thing that must
do at once, and that is to destroy
these sheds where they kept their
stores They would furnish a cover
AS good cover as any enemy could
ask for. They hinder our view UP tho
beach" .,.r.
How long do you suppose It will
last?" she asked, in voice that shook
little. "How long can it last? How
long can we live like that, even sup
posing that our watch is effective and
that they aren't able to surprise u.s."
She clasped her hands, with shud-
der, and gripped them between her
knees. ooh, If it would only happen
soon," she went on, whatever 1t Isl"
What l don't understand" said
Cayley, lis why they haven't attacked
US already. Why have they waited
until we are fortified and secure? Why
didn't they attack us yesterday morn
ing when they would have found US
helpless"
Surely" said Jeanne, "he couldn't
have hoped for better opportunity to
attack me than he had when I was
alone there in the twilight. before you
came flying down out Of the sky; and
you said he was quite near. Why do
you suppose he didn't Why do you
suppose he waited?"
And even after I came down." said
NavlAv UT mao hn1n1oaa for a y,otn,1fn