Putnam patriot., 1916-07-14


 r7IafIiaa range and this tundra GNafI estimated that he could lay a min If track day over it-lel right m to the glaciers Once through the coast range building would be easy for the nBEer salmon was navigable, and ifs hanks presented no difficulties to track laying.
 He turned abruptly to Appleton, who vas pulling an oar.
 What do you know about that can yoH29 he asked.
 Not much Nobody knows much. for these fellows who went through in the gold rush have all left the country Gordons right of way comes in above, and so does the trusts. From there on know every feet of the ground" ]"
 Camp was pitched late that night far out on tue flats. During the prepara- ton of supper Murray sat staring fix edly before him. deaf to all sounds and msensible to the activities of his com pauions. He had lost bis customary breeziness and his good nature He was curt. saturnine. unsmiling. Ap- pleton undertook to arouse him from this abstraction but Slater drew the young man aside hurriedly with warning:
 Don't do that, son. or you'll wear spHnts for the rest of the trip"
 What's the matter with him. any howsa Dan inquired He was boil ing over with enthusiasm all day, but noW-why, he's asleep sitting up. He hasn't moved for twenty minutes .'
 Tom shook his head, dislodging a swarm of mosquitoes.
 Walk on your toes, my boy. Walk on yoar toes. l smell something cook ing, and it ain't supper"
 When foed was served O'Neil made pretense of eating. but rose suddenly il tue midst of 1t with the words:
 "Ill stretch my legs d bit" His voice was strangely listless In his eyes was the same abstraction which had troubled Appleton during the aft ernoon. He left the camp and disap peared up the bank of the stream.
 Nice place to take walk the ell gineer observed. Hell bog down in half mile or get lost among the sloughsn
 Darkness had settled when O'Neil re appeared. He came punging out of the brash drenehed. muddy. stained by contact with the thickets. but his former mood had disappeared. and in lis place was q harsh, explosive en .ergy.
 Tom he cried, you and Appleton and l will leave at daylight. The men will wait here until we get back" His voice was incisive. It's tone forbade question.
 The youthful engineer stared at him in dismay. for only his anxiety had triumphed over his fatigue, and day ight Was but four hours away O'Neil noted the expression and said more gently:
 You're tired. Appleton, I know, but in working for me you'll be called upon for extraordinary effort now and then may not demand more than an extra hour from you; then again may demand week straight without sleep I'll never ask it unless it's nee essary and unless I'm ready to do my share.
 ..Yes, sir
 "The sacrifice is big, but the pay is bigger Loyalty is all require"
 I'm ready now, sir"
 We can't see 10 travel before dawn. Help Tom load the lightest boat with rations for five days. If we run short well ;siwash it" He kicked off his rubber boots, upended them to drain the water out. then flung himself upon his bed of boughs and was asleep al- most before the two had recovered from their surprise.
 Five days or longer." Slater said g1oomily as he and Dan began their preparations And me with indiges- tjon,'
 What does it mean?" queried Alp pieton.
 It means I'll probably succumb"
 No. Do. What's the meaning of this change of plan? l can't understand it.
 You don't need to" Happy Tom informed him curtly. There was look of solieitude in his face as he added, II clothes before he went to sleep"
 Lets wake him up."
 But Slater shook his head I'd soon CT wake a raftiesnake,' said he
 0'Neil reused the members Gf his ex- petition while the sky was reddening faintly, for he had q mind which work ed like an alarm clock. All except Appleton had worked for him before, and the men accepted his orders to await his return with no appearance Of surprise
 With the first clear Hsht he and his two companions set out. rowing up the estuary Of the Salmon until the eur rent became too swift to stem in that manner Then landing they rigged a brfdle'' for the skiff. fitted their shoul- defs fo loops in q ninety foot tow rope and began t0 ..traek. their craft u1' aGainsf the stream It was heart hreaking work. Frequently they were waist deep in the cold water Long syveeaaers~ with tips awash in the afad Euterfere.l with their efforts. The many branches If the stream forced them te make repeated crossings. for The delta was no more than an endless series of islands through which the current swirled When du.k overlook them they were wet. weary and weak Tom hunger. With the dawn they were up and at it a-aln. but their task became constantly more difficult be cause of the floating glacier ice. which