The Dolores star., 1918-06-28

49, NAOSAs AA6s 0A3CuOu81Us XOUI
breakfast Is ready. Jim II looking out
for tie huskies."
Half an hour later the Scotsman
gave the order. '1dush!" He was on
again, this time on the back trail a.
far ~ the Narrows, from which point
he meant to strike across to intersect
the fork of the road leading to the d.
vide.
The storm had passed and when the
late sun rose 1t was In blue sky. Fine
enough the day was overhead, but the
slushy snow. where It was worn thin
on the river by the sweep Of the wind,
made heavy travel for the dogs. Mac
donald was glad enough to reach the
NarrowS, where he could turn from the
river and cut across to hit the trail of
the men he was following. He had
about FIVE miles to 60 before he would
reach the Smith Crossing road and
every foot Of II he would have to
break trail for the dogs. This was slow
business. since he had no partner at
the gee-pole. Back and forth. back
and forth heStrudged. beating down the
loose snow for the runners. Il was q
hill trail. and the drifts were IN most
places not very deep. But the Scots
man was doing the work Of two, and
at Q killing pace.
Over ridge the team plunged down
into Q little park where the snow was
deeper. Macdonald. breaking trail
across the mountain valley, found his
fest weighted with packed ice sluah %
that he could hardly move them. When
at last he had beaten down o path for
his dogs he stood breathing deep at the
summit Of the dope. Before them lay
tie main road 10 Smiths Crossing,
scarce nfty yards away. He gave Q
desp whoop Of triumph for along II
ran the wavering tracks isft b. Q sled.
He was on the heels Of his saemy at
last
A. he turned back to his Siberian
hounds, the eyes Of Macdonald came
to abrupt attention. On the hillside.
not ten yards from him, something
stuck out Of the snow like Q hsnpost
Il was the foot Of Q man.
Slowly Macdonald moved toward Il.
He knew well enough what he had
stumbled across-one Of the tragedies
that In the North are likely to b found
In the wake Of every widespread bliz-
card. Some unfortunate traveller. blind
ed By the white swirl, had wandered
from the trail and had staggered up Q
draw to his death.
Win little digging the Alaskan
uncovered Q leg. The man had died
where hs had fallen. face down. Mac
donald ecooped away the snow ana
found pack strapped to the back OF
the buried man. He cut the thongs
and tried to ease It away. But the
gunnysaek had frozen to the parka.
When ~ pulled. the rotten sacking
gave way under the strain. Ths CON
tents q the PACK spilled out.
The eyes In the grim faes Of Mac
donald gr0w hard and eteely. He had
found. By some strange freak Of
chance. much more than he had *
pected to nnd. Using his snowshoe a.
. shovel. he dug the body free and
turned IL ovsf. At sight Of the face he
gave czy Of astonishment.
.
Gordon ovefslept. His plan had been
to reach Kusiak at the end Of o long
days travel, but that had meant get
ting on the trail with the FIRST gleam Of
light. When he opened his eyes Mrs..
Olson was calling him to rise.
he dressed and stepped out into the
cold. crisp morning. From the hill
crotch the sun was already pouring
down q great, fanlike shaft of fiRht
across the snow vista. saltwater
Pete passed behind him on his way to
the stable and called a cheerful good
morning In his direction.
Mrs. Olson had put the stove outside
the tent and Gordon lifted It to the
spot where they did the cooking.
Good morning, neighbor," he called
to Sheba. "Sleep wellf"
The little rustling sounds within the
tent ceased. A face appeared in the
doorway, the flaps drawn discreetly
close beneath the chin.