Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-06-21

To strike for Seattle was to throw
away all pretcnSe of innocence. Fugi-
tivcS from justice they would have TO
disappear from sight in order Ia cs-
cape. The hunt for them would con
tinue until at last they were unearthed.
One fork of the road led To COmpara-
tive safety; the other went by devious
W.ndingS 10 the penitentiary and per
hapS the gallOws. The Scotsman put
himself in the place of the men he was
trailing. Given the sam" conditions,
he knew which path he would follow.
Macdonald took the trail that led
down to the river. 10 the distant gold
creeks which offered n refuge from
man-hunters in many n deserted cabin
marooned 10y the deep SHOWS.
Even the iron frame and steel
muscles of the Scotch Canadian pro-
tested against the task he had set them
that day. 1t was Il time to sit snugly
inside by stove and listen To the
bowling OF the wind as il hurled itself
down from the divide. But from day
light till dark Colby Macdonald fought
with drifts and breasted the storm. He
got into the harness with the dogs. He
broke trail for them. cheered them,
soothed. comforted. punished. Long
after night had fallen he staggered into
the hut Of two prOspectors. his parka
SO stiff with frozen snow that ii had
10 be beaten with hammer before the
coat could be removed
How long since dog team passed
seven huskies and two men?" was
his first question.
NO dog team has passed for four
days" one of the men answered.
"You mean you haven't seen one"
Macdonald corrected.
Il mean none has passed-unleSs II
went by in the night while we slept.
warned U.s."
Macdonald flung his ice-cOated gloves
to table and stopped to take off his
mukluks. His face was blue with the
cold, but the bleak look in the eyes
came from within. He said nothing
more until he was free of his wet
clothes. Then he sat down heavily and
passed a hand over his frozen eye
brows.
"Get me something to eat and take
care Of my dogs. There is food for
them on the Sled" he said.
While he ate he told them of the
bank robbery and the murder. Their
resentment against the men who had
done 1t was quite genuine. There
could be no doubt they told the truth
when they said no sled had preceded
his. They were honest, reliable pros
pectors. He knew them both well.
The weary man slept like log. He
opened his eyes next morning to dnd
one of his hosts shaking him.
"Slx o'clock, Mr.. Macdonald. Your
breakfast is ready. Jim is looking out
for the huskies."
Half an hour later the Scotsman
gave the order, "Mush!" He was off
again, this time on the back trail as
far as 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 it was in blue sky. Fine
enough the day was overhead, but the
slushy snow. where 1t 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 ne would
reach the Smith Crossing road and
every foot of IT he would have to
break trail for the dogs This was slow