Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-01

the Boy Reeling to the Ground.
the dogs and advanced to meet him.
A dozen PAGES ahead OF the team 1T
stopped and waited.
"Our dogs are so near exhaustion
that we're afraid 10 take them any
nearer" said q voice. They'd die like
puppies under those packs!'
The voice thrilled Jan. He advanced
with his back TO the fire, so that he
could see the stranger.
you come from Churchillr he
asked.
His words were hardly a question.
They were more OF an excuse for him
20 draw nearer. and he turned little,
so that for an instant the glowing FIRE
Dashed in his eyes.
Yes: We started from the Etawney
Just week ago today"
Jan had come very near The stran-
ger interrupted himself TO stare into
the thin. fierce face that had grown
like a white cameo almost within
reach OF him. With a startled cry he
drew a step back, and JAMS violin
dropped TO the snow.
For no longer than a breath there
was silence. The man wormed him
self back into the shadows inch by
inch. followed by the white face OF the
boy. Then there came shrilly from
Jams lips the mad shrieking Of a name,
and his knife flashed as he lesped at
the others breast.
The stranger was quicker than he.
With u sudden movement he cleared
himself of the blow. and as JAMS arm
went past him, the point OF the knife
ripping his coat sleeve, he shot out a
powerful fist and sent the boy Keeling
20 the ground.
Stunned and bleeding, Jan dragged
himself TO his knees. He saw the dogs
turning, heard a low voice urging them
20 the trail and saw the sledge disap
pear into the forest. He staggered
from his knees TO his feet and stood
swaying in his weakness. Then he
followed.
He forgot that he was leaving his
knife IN the snow. forgot that bach
there about the tire there were otheI
dogs and other men. He followed
sickened by the blow. but gaining
strength as ne pursued. Ahead Of hin
he could hear the sound Of the tobog
gan aud the cautious lashinG OF a whiT
over the backs OF the tired huskies
The sounds filled him with herc,
strength. He wiped away the warn
trickle OF blood that ran over his cheel
aud began TO run, slowly at first
swinging 10 the easy wolf lope Of tn,
forest runner. with his elbows close q
his sides
AT that pace he could have followed
for hours. losing when the pack took &
squirt. gaining when they Jagged, an in
sistent Nemesis just behind when tn,
weighted dogs lay down in their traces
When he heard the cracking OF th'
whip growing fainter be dropped BIZ
arms straight TO his sides and RAJ
more swiftly. his brain reeling with tn,
madness OF his desire 10 reach tn,
sledge. TO drag from II the man VIII,
had struck him. 20 choke life from tn,
face that haunted that mental pictur,
OF his. grinninG at him and gloating al
ways from the shadow world. just be
sNAAl Allt llANs sweet lONSAluCSS Vi III
woman who lived In H.
He did not feel the soft. sun packed
snow under the beat OF his feet 81
received the lash OF low hanging bush
es without experiencing the sensation
OF their sting. Only be knew that b.
wanted aiT-mOre and more air-anC
TO get " he ran with open mouth
struggling and sasping for itsand We
not knowing that Jean de Gravot
wonld have called him q tool f0E tn
Riar1"r IN which be. sought tt
-. lear0 noFe anc more Mmu
the ran Of the sledge. Then be hear
II 10 longer. His heart swelled in
hnal bursting effort. aud be plunge'
Oh until at last his legs crumple
under him and be pitched face down