The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-10-02
nswer forestalled bis arrival

The answer forestalled his arrival
in Liverpool:
Times 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 secret route OF
his own selection.
Eight days out of London, a second
class passenger newly landed from
one Of the C.-P. steamships. he walked
out of sight between dark and dawn,
to turn up presently in the distant
Canadian hamlet OF Bale st. Paul, APP
parently very tenderfooted American
woods-trayeier chaperoned by a taci-
turn indian guide picked up heaven
knows-where.
Crossing the St Lawrence by night,
the two struck on 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 their
depleted packs, the two paused on a
ridge-pole Of the wilderness up back
OF the Allagash country, and made
their midday meal in silence which,
| IL 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 conhagration that threatened all
northern Maine. bone-dry with
drought.
| Only the south offered fair pros
pect. And the fires we're 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 sulien reserve.
They travelled far and fast by dim
forest trails before shutdown. then
again paused for food and rest And
as Jacob sat deity about preparing
the meal, Alan stumbled OF to whip
the little trail-side stream for trout
Perhaps hundred yards upstream.
the back-lash OF a careless cast by his
weary hand hooked the state of Maine.
| Too tired even TO remember the ap-
Il 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 a rectangle OF white paste
board fixed to its trunk, trey OF
hearts, Of which each pip had been
neatly punctured by 22-caliber bull
let.
He carried It back to camp. mean
ing to consult the guide, but on sec
ond thought, held his tongue. 1t was
not likely that the Indian had over
looked an object so conspicuous or
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. al
the day, devoted to relentless prog
ress southwark; thirty minutes o
steady jogging. five minutes for rest
and repeat
No more question as to the need fol
such urgent haste; overhead the NORTH
wind muttered without ceasing. Thu
wells of smoke drifted through the for
est, hugging the ground. like sons
weird acrid mist; and ever the cur
, tanned heavens glared. livid with re
feeted fires.
/, BY midnight Alan had come to thu
bounds of endurance; flesh, bone ant
sinew could nc longer stand the strain
Though Jacob declared that Spiri
: lake was now only six hours distant
as far as concerned Alan he nigh
have said 500 His blanket once IN
, rolled, Alan dropped upon It like on
| 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 lie
, him sleep so late.
!, or sudden he was assailed by sick
! ening fears that needed only the brief
, est investigation to confirm. Jacol
! had absconded with every valnabl
item of their equipment
Nor was his motive far to seek
, Overnight the fire had made tire
! mendous gains. And ever and anol
the wind would bring down the roa
OF the holocaust. dulled by distanc
! but not unlike the growing OF will
animals feeding on their kill
! Alan delayed long enough only &
I swallow a few mouthfuls of raw food
gulped water from spring. and Sc
: out at a dog-trot or the trail to Spiri
! Lake.
/