The evening world., 1916-02-17
thor Of "NoRTH OF FIFry.THREE," Etc.l

and when the first glinmer OF day
break dulled the stars We set out, with
enough meat for OUR dinner slung
upon our backs Howe took the lead
as II 1t was his natural right, pointing
southwest to strike the lake shore on
an angle. When I saw that he was
bound to break trail gave him my
snowshoes, and thereafter We pro-
ceeded Indian file. stepping each In the
track OF the other.
1t must have been killing work for
Howe the two days he stalked through
the woods alone, for a man in ruoc-
csslns would sink to the knees In the
dry, saltlike snow that blanketed tho
land For me II was not so bad: two
pairs OF snow-shoes trampins before
packed the white quicksand down 80
that II was fairly good footing In the
rear, but / was tired enough when tho
weary day drew to a close. and VIC
began to keep lookout for . good
place TO camp.
When we did at last como to q like
ly looking spot, Dick and set about
wood getting. while Howe built a FIRE
"A task he performed with ease IN
about half the time II would have
taken me. He had picked for our
stopping place a great snow bank, ly-
ing In a narrow, treeless depression
that ran east and west: broad
white path through tho forest. With
our webbed shoes we dug to earth
level in snow that had drifted and
settled till IL was firm enough to bear
the weight Of a heavy man. SCOOP
ing out circular hole nearly five
feet deep. Into this we transferred
our fire and covered the floor with q
thick layer Of spruce boushs: and
when IT. was done we had q house,
lacking only the roof.
IL was Howe's Idea, wherever he got
II, and II was a good one, for II mold
the heat and shut OFF an insldiou
night breeze that cut through our
clothing and chilled the very marrow
In our bones. We had each got a
parka-a sort OF shirt garment, fur
lined, made TO slip on over the head
and with n hood attached-at Fort
Resolution, on our way north. But
for those I think we'd have frozen
stln. Cloth 10 unavaiing; II takes
buckskln and fur to turn that North
land cold.
Wed fixed things the best we could
for the night. Howe had set his snares
in the brush close at hand, and stern.
ly enjoined silence upon us, that the
rabbits puttering along their run.
, ways might not take alarm at tn,
sound OF voices and HE them to 9
more secluded spot. His caution was
duly observed. for we had no mind &c
scare away our supper, and in an in.
crediby short time our stiffness wal
rewarded by a long-eared prize.
Before we'd finished him, another
came our way, and In a little Will.
: we were basking In the CHEEKY IRE.
glow, our hunger appeased, SO IA
, forgetting the direness Of our strai
as TO tell each other that the worl.
! would naturally look bright II W,
!, only had tobacco. Howe sat humpet
, up. his hands clasped over his knees
thinking-the Lord knows what.
, "Oh. there. O-o-oh, there, Seattlel'
: We jumped TO our feet at tina
strange call, and in the dead. COLI
/, hush I could hear my hoart pounr
, savagely against my ribs. Seattle
r was the name Buck had Away
, called me in his quaint, uncon
, ventional way But that coul,
not be Buck speaking. Yet IL Ia,
|, come Enthusiastically distinct; a tone
less embodled voice, bubblin
, eerily out OF the drlfted snow.
= Howe craned his head forward
/ straining every nerve to hear. Bac!
OF us the dark spruce trees limne,
= their bushy crests against the fam
above; before us spread the glitter
: ing. white snow path, whence tn
a words had seemed TO come. In
moment the voice uprose again, q
before, toneless and muffled, and .
t, close that involuntarlly I shran
/ back at the ghostly sound. But
+, was speaking my name. as Buc
n OF old had spoken II. and l masters
the leaven OF superstition that wa
), working within me, and hoarsely an
. swcred the call,
p Don't talk so blame loud" tn
- eerie tones went on. "Slt down an
act natural, or We'll all be In tn
a soup again. There may be somebod
a in that timber watchin' yuh righ
q now, for all I know. Sit down, an
o I'll crawl into your hole and tell w
' all about. I'm right close-I've bur
:, rowed under these snowdrifts like
!, badger for four hundred yards"