Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-23
scon,in.ed From Yesterday,

1.-The saints be blessed. then we are
most certain to bust, M'seur,' gasped
Jean. And il We don't the dogs will.
Non, it is impossible
us there anything to eat?"
IA morsaI of cold meat-that is all.
But I say tina 1t is impossible. That
sledge-''
Rowland interrupted him With an i'm
patient gesture.
And l say that if there is anything
to eat in there. get it out. n be quick
about it. Croisset. We're going to
oyertake those precious friends
of yours, and I warn you that If you
make any attempt TO lose time sorns-
thing unpleasant is going to happen.
Understand"
Jean had bent TO unstrap n end OF
the sledge pack and an angry Hash
leaped into his eyes at the threatening
tone of the engineers voice. Fol a
he seemed on the point OF
speech, but caught himself and in
silence divided the small chunk OF
meat which he drew from the pack,
giving the larger share to Rowland as
he vent to, the head of the dogs. Only
one or twice during the next hour did
he look back, and after each of these
chances he redoubled his efforts at
urging on the huslies. Before they
had come to the edge of the black
banslSian forest which Jean had point
ed out from the farther side of the
plain, Rowland saw that the pace was
telling on the team. The leader was
trailing lame, and now and then the
whole pack would settle back in their
traces, to be urged on again by the
fierce cracking of Croisset's long whip.
To add to his own discontinue How
land found hat he could no longer
keep up with Jean and the dogs, and
with his weight added to the sledge
the huskies settled down into a Juggling
walk.
Thus they came into the deep low
forest, and Jean, apparently oblivious
OF the exhaustion of both man and
dogs, walked now In advance Of the
team, his eyes constantly on the thin
trail ahead. Rowland could not fail
to see that his unnecessary threat of a
few hours before still ranked in the
~Frenchman's mind, and several times
he made an effort TO break the others
taciturnity, but Jean strobe on in
moody silence, answering only those
things which were put to him directly,
and speaking not an unnecessary word,
At last the engineer jumped from the
sledge and overlook his companion.
Hold on. Jean" he cried. I've got
enough. You're right, and 1 want to
apologize, We're busted-that is. the
dogs n / are busted, and we might
ne x-e11 -;x-o ~, .,pti1 t,ofxya ha6 a fond
What do you say?'
II say that you have stopped just in
time. M'seur." replied Croisset with
purring s~oftness. Another half hour
and we would have been through the
forest. and just beyond that-in the
edge of the plain-are those whom you
seek, Meleese and her people. That is
what I started to tell you back there
when you shut me up. Mon Dieu. II
it were not for Meleese I would let you
go on. And then-what would happen
then, M'seur, II you made your visit to
them In broad day? Listen!'
Jean lifted a warning hand. Family
there came to them through the forest
the distant baying of a hound
That is one OF our dogs from the
Mackenzie country" he went on softly.
an insinuating triumph in his low voice
Now, M'seur, that have brought you
here. what are you going to do? Shall
we go on and take dinner with those
who are going to kill you, or will you
wait q few hours% Fh, which shall II
be?'
P'or a mofnen Rowland stood mo
tionless. stunned by the Frenchman's
words. Quickly he recovered himself
His eyes burned with a metallic CLEAN