Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-12-10

Four days later he came into the
post The news that awaited him
struck him dumb Isobel and her
father, with one Indian had gone with
the sledge into the South The In
dian who had driven on to Churchill
could give no further Information,
except that he knew the colonel and
his daughter had suddenly changed
their minds about coming to Churc-
hill. Perhaps they had gone to Mel
son House or York Factory-or even
to LIE Pas. He did not know.
1t was with heavy heart that
Philip turned his face once more, to-
ward Lac Balm. He could not re-
press a laugh, bitter and filled with
disappointment, as he thought how
fate was playing against him. lsobel
and her father were going south He
had little doubt they were striking
for Nelson House, and from Nelson
House to civilization there was but
one TRAIL that which led to LIE Pas
and Etomami. And Etomami was but
two hours by rail from Prince Albert.
He carried in his breast pocket
bit Of written information which he
had obtained from the Churchill fac
tor-that helped to soften, in a way,
the sting of his disappointment. 1t
was Colonel Becker's London ad-
dress-and Isobel's,-and he quickly
laid out for himself new plans of
action. He would write to Mac
Gregor from Lac Balm, asking him to
put in at once the necessary applica-
ton for the purchase of his release
from the service AS soon as he was
free he would go to London. He
would call on Isobel like a gentle
man, he told. himself. Perhaps, after
all, it would be the better way.
But first. there was DeBar.
AS he had been feverishly anxious
to return into the North so, now, he
was anxious to have this affair with
DeBar over with. He lost no time
at Lac Balm. writing his letter to
Inspector MacGregor on the same
day that he arrived Only two Of
the dogs which the Indian had
brought into the post were At to
travel. and with these. and light
sledge on which he packed his equip
ment he set off alone for Fond du
Lac week later he reached the
post He found Hutt, the factor,
abed with a sprained knee. and the
only other man at the post were
three Chippewayans, who could
neither talk nor understand English.
"DeBar is gone" groaned Hutt,
after Philip had made himself known.
"A rascal Of Frenchman came in
last night on his way to the Grand
Rapid, and this morning DeBar was
missing. had the Chippewayans in,
and they say he left early in the
night with his sledge and one big
bull of a hound that he hangs to like
grim death I'd kill that damned In
dian you came up with. I believe 1t
was he told the Frenchman there
was an officer on the way"
''Ts the Frenchman here?" asked
Philip.
Gone" groaned Hutt again. turn
ing his twisted knee. "He left for
the Grand Rapid this morning. and
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post This winter has been death on
the dogs, and what few are left are
out on the trap-lines. DeBar knows
you're after him. sure as fate, and
he's taken trail toward the Atha-
basca The best can do is to let
you have a Chippawayan who'll go
with you as far as the Chariot. That's
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you'll do after that God only knows
"I'll take the chance" said Philip
well start after dinner. I've got
two dogs, a little lame, but even at
that they'll have DeBar's outfit handi-
capped"
1t was less than two hours later
when Philip and the Chippewayan
set off into the western forests, the
Indian ahead and Philip behind, with
the dogs and sledge between them
Both men were travelling light. Philip
had even strapped his carbine and
small emergency bag to the toboggan
and carried only his service revolver
at his belt. 1t WIS one o'clock and
the last slsnting beams of the win.
ter sun, heatless and only cheering
i to the eye. were fast dying away be
fore the first dull gray approach Of
desolate gloom which precedes for 6
few hours the northern night.
DeBar was ahead OF him-DeBal
! the outlaw. probably, watching and
, scheming as he had watched and
schemed when the other four hat
played against him, The game hat
grown old to him. 1t had brought
him victim after victim, and each
, victim had made of him a more
! deadly enemy of the next.
, Philip went back to the sledge ant
! unstrapped his carbine. He walked
ahead of the Indian, alert, listening
. and prepared. They built fire anC
!, cooked their supper when 1t grew
too dark to travel.
Later, when 1t became lighter. they
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