The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-07-26
CHAPTER Il.-continued.

P
KaZan paid no attention to him. An
other form had approached out of the
night, and stood now in the circle of
illumination made by the lanterns. 1t
vas McCready, who was to accompany
Thorpe and his young wife back to the
Red River camp, where Thorpe was in
charge of the. building of the new
Transcontinental. The man was
straight powerfully built and clean
shaven. His jaw was so square that
it was brutal, and there was a glow in
his eyes that was almost like the pas
sion in KaZan's as he looked at Isobel.
McCready shifted his gaze, and in
| stantly her hand fell on Kazan's head.
! For the first time the dog did not seem
/ to feel her touch. He still snarled
at McCready, the rumbling menace in
his throat growing deeper Thorpe's
wife tugged at the chain.
Down, Kazan-dOwn - she co43-
manded.
At the sound of her voice he relaxed.
'Down she repeated, and her free
hand fell on his head again. He skunk
TO her feet. But his lips were still
drawn back. Thorpe was watching
him. He wondered at the deadly ven
ON that shot from the wolfish eyes,
and looked at McCready. The big
guide had GncoiIed his long dog-whip
A strange look had come into his face
He was staring hard at Kazan. Sud-
denly he leaned forward with both
hands on his knees, and for a tense
moment or two he seemed TO forget
that Isobel Thorpe's wonderful blue
eyes were looking at him.
"Hoo-koosh, Pedro-charge ~
That one word-charge-wa taught
only to the dogs in the service of the
Northwest Mounted police. Kazan did
not move. McCready Strengthened,
and, quick as shot, sent the long lash
of his whip curling out into the night
with a crack like pistol report.
Charge, PedrO-charge :"
The rumble in Kazan's throat deep
ened to a snarling growl, but not a
muscle of his body moved. McCready
turned TO Thorpe.
81 could have sworn that 1 knew that
dog" he said. IF it's Pedro, he's !
bad"
Thorpe was taking the chain. Only /
the girl saw the look that came for an .
instant into McCreadys face. 1t made /
her SILVER. A few minutes before,
when the train first stopped at Les
Pas, she had offered her hand to this
man, and she had seen the same thing
then. But even as she shuddered she
recalled the many things her husband
had told her of the forest people. She
had grown to love them, to admire
their big rough manhood and loyal
hearts, before he had brought her
among them; and suddenly she smiled
at McCready, struggling to overcome
that thrill of fear and dislike.
HE doesn't like you" she laughed
at him softly. won't you make friends
with him?"
She drew Kazan toward him, with
Thorpe holding the end of the chain.
McCready came to her side as she bent
over the dog. His back was to
Thorpe as he hunched down. Isobel's
u
face. He could see the glow in her {
cheek and the pOuting curve of her S
mouth as she quoted the low rumbling l
in Kazan's throat. Thorpe stood ready 6
to pull back on the chain. but for a l
moment McCready was between him r
md his wife, and he could not see
McCready's face. The mans eyes L
10 ! n
1t the girl. h
You're brave" he said. 81 don't t
lare do that. He would take off my d
landr a
He took the lantern from Thorpe S
md led the way to narrow snow Il
,ath branching off from the track. d
Hidden back in the thick spruce was o
he camp that Thorpe had left fort o
light before. There were two tents 81
here now in place of the one that he u
md his guide had used. A big fire C;
vas burning in front of them. Close a
o the fire was a long sledge, and If
astened to trees just within the outer it
ircle of freight Kazan saw the Il
hadowy forms and cleaning eyes of N
is teammates. He stood stiff and mo- hi
Ionless while Thorpe fastened him to to
sledge. Once more he was back in
is forests-and in command. His m
distress was laughing and clapping OF
er hands deightedly in the excite pi
rent of the strange and wonderful life @
{ which she had now become a part. Ie
hoppe had thrown back the flap of tn
leir tent, and she was entering ahead in
Z him She did not look back She of
poke no word to him. He whined, tn
nd turned his red eyes on McCready. tn