The evening world., 1916-02-17

snow. 1 began 10 wonder what Woulu
DO the outcome should Buck fall In
his mission. II was an ugly thought.
one that made mo moro than once
glance SUPPLEMENTARY over my shout
der. II would be 80 easy. with Buck
| eliminated, for the Ape and Francois
to pot US II Il seemed that we might
make Fort Resolution. hadn't
thought OF IL in that light before.
| or course II would be the height OF
folly for thcm TO allow VI 20 roach
q Hudson's Bay poster any white
mans abiding place, for that matter
after robbing US, and. AZ they
thought numbering both our guides.
There Ii a law In the North. new and
naked as Il is--and dead mon, &C.
Far In our rear came a sharp
crack. Howe whlrled about short,
and the three OF us listened breath
Ilessly, hands cupped behind our ears.
IL we had not known and had been
waiting for something OF the sort.
might have taken Il for the break
ing OF a frosty. snow-ladeu limb. But
We knew II was n gun. whothor tho
lri1e OF somo hunting Indian or the
first note in another tragedy we had
lyet to learn. For 4 time we waited
moveiess. fearful; a waiting fraught
with suspense. Then my over
lstrained nerves could bear no more,
land l turned to Howe.
Let's go back, for heavens sake"
cried. "If Buck has won out TIA all
right. II he hasn't. IT'S only a mat
ter Of time till they got us. too.
lcan't stand here and walt and wait"
Come on, then" he returned. ia
like 10 know-woll. never mind. Come
on"
We didn't have far TO GO. after all:
not moro than half u mile. Two fig
ures appeared. following swiftly our
trail. and barely rspressed n yell of
pure Joy when l recognized Buck, ono
rine slung across his square should
ers and another In his hands. driving
relentIeSsly before him our baboon-
faced enemy. the Apo.
A moment later they wore UP to US,
the Ape scared and sullen. Buck cool
and watchful.
What Of tho Frenchman?' / asked,
for 1t seemed hardly possible that the
Ape would follow US alone. I was a
known without being told, that the
extra rifle accounted for either tho
Frenchman or an Indian.
Buck shrugged his shoulders. HE
wouldn't stand for q hold up" he an
swered. and so lot him have II. He
had It coming to him, anyway. And
want TO warn yuh all, right now. not
10 take any chances with this square
faced critter. II he makes "A break,
do: shoot first and ask all the aues-
lions yuh want to afterward."
|. Buck gave Dick tho rine-which
I happened to be Howe's pet gun: .
z 1880 Savage he had priced above all
!, tho othcrs-he had taken from the
o dead Frenchman. II had fallen 10
] Francois. | suppose. an the division of
e plumber. Me he armed with his own
I six shooter. and for himself kept the
Apes gun and belt Qiowe showed
J. no deyire for 4 weapon: all his at
+ tcntion was centred on the Ape
Then he started uB on again. trailing
p far In the rear himself. 20 guard
s against surprise by the Indians should
they find the body OF Francois and
Z follow our trail.
h None followed, however. A little
= after noon Dick shot a moose. and VIC
= halted for dinner. ana filled our empty
7 stomachs with the wholesome meat.
Il Our dinner over, we loaded ono hind
quarter on tho Apes massive back.
= and drove him before us like a beast
u of burden the rest OF the day. And,
= as We plodded. Howe's eyes followed
Il tho Ape with u queer. puzzled express
: sion that sharpened nt times TO a
J, baIeful, malignant glare.
: In the heart OF u thick grown grove OF
spruce. Before our Are was well un-
/, der way Il droning wind crept out OF
:, the northeast, whore lie the Barren
Grounds, and in an hour the crisp
IA powdered snow was whirlng abou'
a the auiverinE tree tops and settling or
!, the forest floor. s.s though tho banked
;. clouds above we're In mad haste u
a bury US before our time.
"Mnybp 1 ain't 4lnl tn la old storm 4,
- doin' business in slap-banR style!
s.. Buck remarked. when we'd fixed oul
20 shelter for the night aud we're hud
=, ding close 10 roaring blaze-cvei
~ tho Ape seemed 10 appreciate th'
~ comfort of the Are. "rhem Injun!
: couldn't fOllcr us now n they WA
~ ever so anxious for our gore. don
expect em to ever pick up the traI
!, after this. Chances are they wouldn'
~ think about gettin' out 10 look 70
"a their two big chiefs till Il was to'
10 late. This snow'll bury Frenchy 81
ID an InJun; and you'll 90 20 Fort Reso
n luton, and the Hudson's Bay Com
pnny'll see that yuh decorate The enc
10 ~ a good stout rope, yum cold blood
n ed, thlevin' murderer"-this last q
the Ape,
But no only buried his chin deepe
IN the fur collar OF his coat. and mad
no Tfpiy' ...
We slept little that night. IL wa
too cold. The wind whlstled throuSI
III the woods with a melancholy whine
ge and pelted us with steadily, down
Of driving masses OF snow. There wa
\ no escape from the combined on
slaught: nothing 20 do but bear
Ut and ply the FIRE.
a That night, the next day. and IN
Az following night the storm ragged
:. Forty hours that stick in my mem
OF DRY as tiEno OF slithering snow, o
W grooming trees, and untempered mis-
cry. Crouched over our sputterin,
- ire, we cursed tho wilderness who's
" moods take no account OF the pain O
gh man. We raved against the force
he inaotion. but there was no help 70
ca Il; man would only waste hi
AZ, strength. Buck said, wandering Il
a.. such q blizzard,
~, TIL tho storm broke We dozed ut
rs fully. rustlcd wood by turns. and KEEP
va close watch on our prisoner tn
u rabbits Struggled away In their snow
~ burrows. beyond reach OF snare o
III r1In: only tho quarter OF moose mea
an kept life IN our bodies and hope in ou
,ul souls. I can tell you that was frank