The Arvada enterprise., 1918-08-01
CHAPTER x-oentInusd.

CHAPTER x-oentInvsd.
10
On the second day they crossed the
Skeena. a risky and tedious piece Of
business, for the river ran deep and
strong.
Presently the way grew rougher. II
anything. Roaring Bill increased his
pace. He himself no longer rode.
When the steepness Of the hills and
canyons made the going hard the packs
were redivided. and henceforth Satin
bore on his back portion Of the sup
plies. Bill led the way tirelessly.
Through flies. river crossings, camp
labor. and all the petty irritations Of
the trail he kept an unruflied spirit, q
Ane. enduring patience that Hazel mar
veled at and admired. Many a time.
wakening at some slight stir. she
would find him cooking breakfast. In
every way within his power he saved
her.
Many a strange shift were they put
to. Once Bill had to fell 4 great
spruce across twenty.foot crevice. h
took him two days to hew II nat 10
that his horses could be led over The
depth was bottomless to the eye. but
from far below rose the cavernous
growl Of rushing water. and Hazel
held her breath a. each animal stepped
gingeriy over the narrow bridge. One
misstep-
--Once tAsy climbed three weary days
M q precipitous mountain range. and.
turned back In sight Of the crest by
an impossible cliff. were forced to
back track and swing n ffty-mile de-
tour. September was upon them. The
days dwindled in length. and the nights
grew to have . frosty nip.
Early and late he pushed on. Two
camp necessities were fortunately
abundant. grass and water. Even NO.
the stress Of the trail told on the
horses. They lost flesh The extreme
steepness Of succeeding hills bred gals
under the heavy packs. They grew
leg weary, no longer following each
other with sprightly step and heads
high. Hazel pitied them, for she her
self Was trail weary beyond words
The vagnbond instinct had fallen
asleep. The hne aura Of romance no
longer hovered over the venture.
Sometimes when dusk ended the
days journey and she swung her stiff.
fened limbs ont Of the saddle. she
would checrfully have foregone all the
gold 10 the North to hc at her ease
before the fireplace In their distant
cabin. with her name hend nesting In
her lap. and no toll Of weary miles
looming sternly on fhc morrow's hori.
son. II was NIL work. trying work. the
more trying because she scnscd
latent uneasiness on her husbands
part m unensiness she could never In.
durc him to cmbody In words. Never
'helc~s. II existed. md she resented its
existence trouble she could not
share. But she could not put her m.
Ger on the cnuse. for Rlll merely smiled
q denial when she mentioned II.
Nor did she fnthom the cause until
apon u certain day which fell upon
'hc end of weeks wenrisome traverse
cf the hardest country Yet encountered.
They broke out of canyon up
which they had struggled nll day onto
y level plot where the pine stood In
somber rnnks. A spring creek split the
fiat In two. Reside this tiny stream
Eill nnlnshed his packs. II still lacked
TWO hours of dark. Rut he made no
comment. and Hazel forborc 10 trouble
him with questions. Once the packs
were on and the horses nj liberty. Riii
caught up his rife.
Come on. Hazel" he said. Let's
take little hike"
The NAT was small and once clear
of II the pines thinncd out on steep,
rocky slope 10 that westward they
rcuid overlook q vast network Of can.
Sons md mountain spurs. Hut ahead
Of them the mountain rose to an IN.
einndine backbone u jumbicd granite,
and on this backbone Riii WnvstufY
bent an anxious eye. Presently they
su' down on bowldcr to take q
breathing spell nfser n siifY stretch Of
climbing. ilnaci Slipped her hand In
his md whispered:
"whni II II. Biiiy.boyr
"rm afraid we can't gc, over h-r
with the horses" he answered slowly,
sAnd II We can't md n tass of some
k,nd-~rii. come on! II Isn't morv
tt"~ y s"sStse u Z mile 10 the tom