Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-11-07

enough at that. She followed till her
strength began to fail. And when in
spite Of her determination she Jagged
behind, he stopped at the first water.
"We'l camp here" he said. you're
about all in, and we can't get anywhere
tonight, I see plainly"
Hazel accepted this dictum as best
she could. She sat down on a messy
rock while he stripped the horses of
their gear and staked them out. Then
Bill started a fire and fixed the roll
Of bedding by it for her to sit on.
Dusk crept over the forest while he
cooked the supper, making a hammock
in the frying pan to take the place Of
bread; and when they had finished eat
Ing and washed the few dishes, night
shut down black as the pit.
They talked little. Hazel was in the
grip of utter f~orlornness, moody, wish
full to cry. Roaring Bill bumped on his
side Of the fire, staring thoughtfully
into the blaze. After a long period of
abstraction he glanced at his watch,
then arose and silently arranged her
bed. After that he spread his saddle
blankets and lay down.
Hazel crept into the covers and quiz
city sobbed herself to sleep. The huge
and silent land appalled, her.
AS on the previous night, she wax
ened often and glanced over to the fire.
Roaring Bill kept his accustomed posi-
ton, flat in the glow. She had no fear
of him now.
Night passed, and dawn ushered in a
clearing sky. Ragged wisps of clouds
chased each other across the blue
when they set out again. Hazel walked
the stiffness out Of her muscles before
she mounted. When she did get on
Silk, Roaring Bill increased his pace.
He was long-legged and light Of foot,
apparently tireless. She asked no ques-
lions. What was the use? He would
eventually come out somewhere. She
was resigned to wait.
After a time she began to puzzle,
and the old uneasiness came back. The
last trailing banner Of cloud vanished,
and the sun rode clear in an opal sky,
smiling bengnly down on the forested
land. She was thus enabled to locate
the cardinal points Of the compass.
Wherefore she took to gauging their
course by the shadows. And the result
was what set her to thinking. Over
level and ridge and swampy hollow,
Roaring Bill drove straight north in
an undertaking line. She recollected
that the point from which she had lost
her way had lain northeast of Cariboo
Meadows. Even if they had swung
in a circle, they could scarcely be
pointing for the town in that direction.
For another hour Bill held to the
northern line as a needle holds to the
pole. A swift rush of misgiving seized
her.
"Mr. Wagstaff! !" she called sharply.
Roaring Bill stopped. and she rode
Silk up past the pack horses.
"Where are you taking m"?" she &c,
handed.
"Why, I'm taking you home---or try
Ing to-" he answered mildly.
But you're going north" she de-
clared. you've been going north al
morning. l was north OF Cariboo
Meadows when l got lost. How can
we get back to Cariboo Meadows by
going still farther north?'
you're more Of a wool>m'h than I
imagined" Bill remarked gently. Es
smiled up at her, and drew out his
pipe and tobacco pouch.
She looked at him for 3 inmate.
"Do you know where we are noW?'
she asked quietly.
He met her keen gaze calmly. "
do" he made laconic answer.
(Which way is Cariboo Meadows,
then, and how far is it?" she demand.
ed.
General direction, SOUTH" he re-
piled slowly. FIFTY miles more or
less. Rather more than less"
".And you've been leading me
ctroIUht porth - Shn rripl ooh what