The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-11

cooked the supper, making a bannock 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 forlornness, moody, wish full to cry. Roaring Bill bumped on his side of the fire. staring thoughtfully into the blaze. After 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 Qui- etly sobbed herself to sleep. The huge and silent land appalled, her.
 As on the previous night, she walk ened often and glanced over to the fire. Roaring Bill kept his accustomed posi- tion, fiat 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- tions. 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 benignly 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 Carboo Meadows. Even If they had swung In circle, they could scarcely be pointing for the town In that direction. For another hour Bill held to the northern line as 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 mel" she de- 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 all morning. I was north of Cariboo Meadows when I got lost. How can we get back to Cariboo Meadows by going still farther north?"
 You're more of woodsman than I imagined" Bill remarked gently. He smiled up at her, and drew out his pipe and tobacco pouch.
 She looked at him for a minute, Do you know where we are now?" she asked quietly.
 He met her keen gaze calmly. "I 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 straight north !" she cried. "Oh, what nm I going to do?"
 Keep right on going" wagstaff an- swered.
 "I won't-I won't" !" she flashed. "rll find my own way back. What devilish impulse prompted you to do such a thing?"
 You'll have a beautiful time of it." he said dryly, completely ignoring her last question. Take you three days to walk there-if you knew every foot of the way. And you don't know the way. Travelling in timber is confus- Ing, as you've discovered You'll never see Cariboo Meadows, or any other place, if you tackle 1t single-handed, without grub or matches or bedding. This is whopping big country. A good many men have got lost in It. and other men have found their bones."
 He let this sink in while she sat these on his horse choking back a wild desire to curse him by bell. book and candle for what he had done, and hold ing In check the fear of what he might yet do. She could not escape the con- clusion that Roaring Blli wagstaff was something of law unto himself. ca pable of hewing to the line of his own l desires at any cost. She realized her utter helplessness. and the realization