Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-28

lence which had smodered forever in his eyes during
the days just ended
Moscow's plan was plain. He had followed his part
ner day by day for about half the journey then lured
helpless in the of the wilderness He knew that
Charlie could not drag his sedge that he would be
forced to abandon his urs and make dash for the
settlement. and that being without weapon and able
to carry but little food he must almost certainly die
the trail before he reached it. Charlie well
that his death would be put down of the nurner
accidents of wilderness travel Moscow's plot
good-a WOodsman plot.
Charlie was ag; IN filled with fury to follow the Rus
sian. Urged by his thoughts, he rushed on. All! there
the tree under which he had slept last night; but
the space beneath it was empty. Sledge, furs food
everything, had vanished The tracks on the told
clearly that it was Moscow who had Quilted the camp
He had probably returned the moment Charlie set out
to find his team harnessed the missing dogs to the ledge
and made off with the whole outfit.
Charlie did not wait to his fooshness in
not suspecting the trick his partner had caftiy
managed to play him. He realized that to follow Mos
with crippled rifle would be added act of folly
No. he must try to make the settlement spite OF the
odds against him.
AS he turned away, something high on the treetrunk
caught his eye-a photograph of Roska which she had
given him before he started on his unucky, trip Mos
must have found it in his baggage and by making
little slit in the bark of the tree with his had fixed
it firmly She looked down with clear eyes and serene
brow the trampled snow and her lovers desperate
face.
THREE days later, three days through which Charlie
had tOed as he had never tOed IN all his lie be-
fore! From dawn to dark and under the armament
Of he had travelled. Each night he had pulled
down dead trees and with his matches and the aid of
powder from his cartridges had lit large fires by
which he lay closeclose enough to scorch and burn his
clothes. Only thus could he keep alive under the pres
of the bitter cold
Tonight weak with hunger, he stumbled on until he
could go farther. He must little though he
guessed he still almost hundred miles from Mac
Evoy His in truth hopeless; though never yet
had he admitted SO much to himself Early in the day
he had killed rock ptarmgan by throwing stick at it.
and this piece of luck he cherished ground for hope
Lighting fire. he ate what left of the bird. and
then dozed in the warmth Sheer exhaustion kept him
drugged until the fire nearly out Hastily he sought
wood to revive it. But everything covered with
Large, quiet fakes sailing through the
darkened air settle densey and spite of his efforts
the fire died.
He must move onward Somehow he forced on his
snowshoes and reeled off on his way Tor matter of
minutes for hours he knew, he made little
Roadway. His sole thought that he must keep
moving-moving till morning-yes keep moving
die! With every step, every thrust forward with his
snowshoes the struggle grew harder and harder The
temptation to give up to yield to the frantic need for
rest that his body craved. became actual battle be
tween flesh and consciousness.
Yet he stumbled on. fell, and somehow rose again.
"Near the finish he muttered, perhaps hundred
steps more; but III hold yeti. Then of a sudden
his consciousness flashed glimmer of light. He
opened his eyes Did he imagine it, there fire.
Continued page I9