The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-07-27

slightest movement toward escape. Ii
i he was compelled to kill or wound his
! companion he could still go on alone
with the dogs. for the trail of Meleese
and Jackpine would be as plain as
their own. which they were following
/ back into the south.
Mon Dieu. but you are strange
man." exclaimed the Frenc Imam when
! he brought the dogs down to walk
after half mile run. BLESSED saints,
m'seur, you are laughing. and | swear
it's no laughing natter
Shouldn't man be happy when he
is going to his wedding. Jean?" puffei
Rowland. gasping to get back the
breath he had lost.
but not when he's going to his flu
neral. m'seur."
''lf were one Of your blessed saints
I'd hit you over the head with thun-
derboIt. Croisset. Good Lord. what
sort Of heart have you got inside of
your jacket. man! Up there where
we're going is the sweetest little girl
In the whole world. love her. She
loves me. Why shouldn't be happy
now that ] know I'm going to see her
again very soon-and take her back
into the south with meY'
''The devil" grunted Jean.
Perhaps you're jealous. Croisset,"
suggested Rowland. Great Scott! I
hadn't thought of that"
I've got one of my own to love,
m'seur. and wouldn't trade her for
all else in the world"
II can't understand you" cried the
engineer. You appear to be half hu-
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 meanY
That's what I'm doing, m'seur-
helping Meleese. / would have done
her greater service If had killed
you back there on the trail and strip
ped your body for those things that
would be foul enough to eat it. l
have told you a dozen times that 1t is
Gods justice that you die. and you
are going to die very soon, m'seur."
"No. I'm not going to die. Jean. I'm
going to see Meleese. and she's going
back into the south with me. and if
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
you say to that?"
THAT you are mad or fool" retorted
Jean, cracking his whip viciously.
The dogs swung sharply from the
trail. heading from their soutberly
course into the northwest.
I'VE will save a day by doing this"
explained Croisset at the others
sharp word of inquiry. I'VE viii 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. II
the other sledge has passed.
He shrugged his shoulders and start
ed the dogs inte a trot. *
LOOK herer' cried Rowland. run.
ming beside him. who is with this
other sledger
"Those who tried to kill you on the
trail and at the coyote. m'seur." be
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 increas-
ed II 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. Ii they
had preceded them be would pursue
and surprise them in camp. In either
case be would possess an 0verwbelm-
ing advantage.
With the same calculating attention
to detail that he would have shown In
the arrangement of plans for the build
ing of tunnel or bridge. lie drew
mental map of his scheme and its
possibilities There would be at least
two men with the sledge and posi-
bly, three If they surrendered at the
point of his rife without fight he
would compel Jean to tie them up with
dog traces while he held them under
cover If they made 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 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 tedious climb to the
top of frozen ridge. Croisset pointed
| down into a vast level plain lying be-
| tween them and other great ridges far
| to the north.
s0That is a bit of the barren lands