The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-08-10
taken advantage of him?

had turned into the unknown. They
two were alone. Why had he not made
Croisset a prisoner, instead Of allowing
himself to be Gagged up Ike weak
ling? He swOre aloud as there dawned
on him more and more a realization
of the opportunity he had lost. At the
point Of a gun he could have forced
CrOisset to Oyertake the other sledge.
He could have surprised Jackpine, as
they had surprised him on the trail
And then? He smiled. but there was
no humOr in the smile. He at last
would have held the whip hand. And
what would Meleese have done?
Meleese loved him. He would have
staked his life on that. His blood
leaped as he felt again the thrill Of her
kisses when she had come to him as
he lay bound and gagged beside the
trail She had taken his head in her
arms. and through the grief Of her
face he had seen shining the light OF
a great love that had glOrified it for all
time for him. She loved him. And he
had let her slip away from him. had
weakly surrendered himself at mo-
ment when everything that he dream
ed Of might have been within his
grasp. With Jackpine and Croisset in
his power
He went no further. Was it too late
to do these things now? CrOisset would
return With a sort Of satisfaction it
occurred to him that his actions had
disarmed the Frenchman Of suspicion.
He believed that it would be easy to
overcome CrOisset. to force him to fol-
low in the trail of MeIeese and Jack
pine And that trail? 1t would prob
ably lead to the very stronghold Of his
enemies. But what Of that? He
loaded his pipe again. putting out
clouds of smoke until the room was
thick with it, That trail would take
him to MeIeese-wherever she was.
Heretofore his enemies had come TO
him; now he would 20 to them. With
CrOisset in his power and with none
of his enemies aware Of his presence,
everything would be in his favor. He
laughed aloud as a sudden thrilling
thought flashed into his mind. As
last resort he would use Jean as a de-
coy
He foresaw how easy it would be to
bring Meleese to him-to see CrOisset.
His own presence would be like the
dropping of a bomb at her feet. In
that moment. when she saw what he
was risking for her. that he was deter
oh q ~
surrender to the pleading Of his love?
If not he would do the other thing
that which had brought the joyous
laugh to his lips. All was fair in war
and love. and theirs was a game OF
love. Because of her love for him Me
Ieese had kidnapped him from his post
Of duty, had sent him a prisoner to
this death house in the wilderness.
Love had exculpated her. That same
love would exculpate him. He would
make her a prisoner and Jean should
drive them back to the WekuskO. Me
leese herself had set the pace. and he
would follow it, And what woman, if
she loved a man. would not surrender
after this? In their sledge trip he
would have her to himself. for not only
an hour or two. but for days. Surely
in that time he could win. There
would be pursuit perhaps; he might
have to fight. but he was willing and
a tribe anxious to fight.
He went to bed that night and
dreamed of things that We're to hap
pen. \ second day, third night and
a third day came. With each hour
grew his anxiety for Jeans return. At
times he was almost feveriSh to have
the affair over with. He was confident
" the outcome. and yet he did not fail
= take the Frcnchman's true measure
, ant. He knew that Jean was like
live wire and steel. as agile as a cat.
more than n match with himself in
open fight despite his own superior
weight and size.
He devised a dozen schemes for
Jeans undoing. One was to leap on
him while he was eating. another to
spring On him and choke him into
partial insensibility as he kneIt beside |
his pack or fed the fire. a third TO
strike a blow from behind that would |
render him powerlesS. But there was
in this last that was re-
pugnant to him. He remembered that |
Jean had saved his life; that in no in
stance had he given him physical pain. |
He would watch for an opportunity, |
take advantage of the Frenchman, as |
Croisset had taken advantage of him, /
but he would not hurt him seriously. |
II should be as fair struggle as |
Jean had offered him. and with the |
in his favor the best man |
would win.
On the morning of the fourth day !
Rowland was awakened by sound I
that came through the aperture in the
wall. 1t was the sharp yelping bark |
of n dog. followed an instant later by |
the sharper crack of a whip and IA
miliar voice.
Jean Croisset had returned.
With a single leap he was out or
his bunk. Half dressed he darted TO
the door and crOuChed there. the mus
rles Of his arms tightening, his body
tense with the gathering forces with
In him
The spur Of the moment had driven