The Delta independent., 1914-08-21
The answer forestalled his arrival

The answer forestalled his arrival
in Liverpool:
Trine's death sign for your father. For
Gods sake. look to yourself and keep
away from America.
But Alan had more than once Wis
tied America incognito and unknown
to Seneca Trine via q secret route Of
his own selection.
Eight days out of London. q second
class passenger newly landed from
one Of the C.-P. steamships, he walked
the streets Of Quebec-and dropped
out of sight between dark and dawn,
to turn up presently in the distant
parently q very tenderfooted American
woods-traveler chaperoned by a taci
turn Indian guide picked up heaven
knows-where.
Crossing the St Lawrence by night,
the two struck of quietly into the
hinterland of the Notre Dame range,
then crossed the Maine border.
On the second noon thereafter
trail-worn and weary, as lean as theiI
depleted packs, the two paused on g
ridge-pole Of the wilderness up back
of the Allagash country, and made
their midday meal in a silence which
II normal in the Indian, was one OF
deep misgivings on Alan's part
Continually his gaze questioned the
northern skies that lowered porten
tously. foul with smoke-a country
wide confiagration that threatened all
northern Maine, bone-dry with
drought
Only the south offered fair pros
pect. And the fires were making
southwark far faster than man might
hope to travel through that grim and
stubborn land
Even as he stared, Alan saw fresh
columns Of dun-colored smoke spring
up In the northwest.
Anxiously he consulted the impas
sive mask Of the Indian, from whom
his questions gained Alan little com
fort. Jacob recommended forced
marches to Spirit lake. where canoes
might be found to aid their fight:
and withdrew into sullen reserve.
They Travelled far and fast by dim
forest trails before sundown, then
again paused for food and rest And
as Jacob sat deftly about preparing
the meal, Alan stumbled of to whip
the little trail-side stream for trout
Perhaps a hundred yards upstream
the back-lash OF careless cast by his
weary hand hooked the state of Maine
Too tired even to remember the ap
propriate words, Alan scrambled
ashore, forced through the thick un.
dergrowth that masked the trail
found his fly, set the state OF Maine
free-and swinging on his heel
brought up, nose to . sapling, trans
fixed by . rectangle Of white paste
board nxed to its trunk, q trey OF
hearts, Of which each pip had been
neatly punctured by . 22-caliber bull
let.
He carried II back to camp, mean.
ing to consult the guide. but on sec.
ond thought, held his tongue. II was
looked an object 30 conspicuous on
the trail.
So Alan waited for him to speak
and meantime determined to watch
Jacob more narrowly, though no other
suspicious circumstance had marked
the several days Of their association.
The FIRST half Of the night was. as
the day, devoted to relentless prog
ress southwark; thirty minutes OF
steady jogging, five minutes for rest
and repeat
No more question as to the need for
such urgent haste: overhead the north
wind muttered without ceasing. Thin
wells Of smoke drifted through the for.
est, hugging the ground. like some
weird acrid mist: and ever the cur
tanned heavens glared, livid with re
hected fires.
By midnight Alan had come to the
bounds Of endurance; flesh, bone and
sinew could no longer stand the strain.
Though Jacob declared that Spirit
lake was now only six hours distant,
as far as concerned Alan he might
have said 600. His blanket once un.
rolled. Alan dropped upon It like one
drugged.
The sun was high when he awak.
ened and sat up. rubbing heavy eyes.
stretching aching limbs. wondering
what had come over the Indian to let
him sleep 80 late
OF q sudden he was assailed by sick.
ening fears that needed only the brief
est investigation to confirm. Jacob
had absconded with every valuable
item of their equipment.
Nor was his motive far to seek.
Overnight the fire had made tire.
mendous gains. And ever and anon
the wind would bring down the roar
OF the holocaust, dulled by distance
but not unlike the growing of wild
animals feeding on their kill.
Alan delayed long enough only to
swallow few mouthfuls OF raw food,