The state herald., 1918-05-03

a dusky-eyed young woman whom he
had seen for the FIRST time fortnight
before. He would have denied even to
himself that he was In love, but when
ever he was alone his thoughts 10
verted to Sheba O'Neill.
At the big bend Gordon left the river
boat for his cross-country trek. Near
the roadhouse was an Indian village
where he had expected to get q guide
for the journey to Kamatlah. But the
fishing season had begun, and the men
had all gone down river to take part
In 1t.
The old Frenchman who kept the
trading-post and roadhouse advised
Gordon not to attempt the tramp alone.
"The trail It ees what you call dan
gerous. Feefty-AIile Swamp ees mon
ster that swallows men alive, mon
sieur. You wait one week-two week
free week, and some one will turn
up to take you through" he urged.
But I can't wait. And have an Of.
ncial map Of the trail. Why can't I
follow 1t without q guider Elliott
wanted to know impatiently.
The post-trader shrugged. sNaybeso
monsieur-maybe not Feefty-Aile-it
ees one devil Of trail. No checha-
koes are safe In there without q guidA
1 Baptiste. know"
"Selfndge and his party went
through q week ago. I can follow the
tracks they left"
0E4nt - - v,.ou-lnu- -
VIII vaneesh, nest CO past Lose the
way. and the little singing folk will
swarm In clouds about monsisur while
he stumbles through the swamp"
Elliot hesitated for the better part
Of a day. then came to an impulsive
decision. He had . reliable map. and
anyhow he had only to follow the
tracks left by the Selfridge party. He
turned his back upon the big river and
plunged into the wilderness.
There came q night when he looked
up into the stars Of the deep, still sky
and knew that he was hundreds Of
miles from any other human being.
Never In al his life had he been 20
much alone. he was not afraid. but
there was something awssome In Q
world % empty Of his hind.
The tracks Of the Selfsidge party
grew fainter after q night Of rain. More
rain fell. and they were oblitsratsd a.
together.
Gordon fished. He killed fresh game
for his needs. Often be came on the
tracks Of moose and caribou. Some
times, startled. they leaped into view
quite close enough for shot. but he
used his rife only to meet his wants.
The way led through valley and
morass. across hills and mountains. II
wandered In a sort of haphaxard fash
ion through q sun-bathed universe
washed clean Of sordidness and mean.
ness.
II was the seventh night ont that
Elliot suspected he was of the trail.
Rain sluiced down In torrents and next
day continued to pour from dun sky.
His own tracks were tlotted out and
he searched for the trail In vain. Be
fore he knew II he was entangied In
Fifty.Aille. His map showed him the
morass stretched for nifty miles to the
south, but he knew that II had been
charted hurriedly by q surveying party
which had made no extensive explora.
lions. A good deal Of this country was
terra incognita. II ran vaguely Into u
No Mans Land unknown to the pros
pectof.
The going was heavy. Gordon had
to pick his way through the mossy
swamp, leading the pack-horse BY the
bride. Sometimes he was ankle-deep
In water Of . greenish slime. Again
he had to drag tho animal from the
bog to hummock Of grass which gave
q spongy footing. This would end In
another Quagmire Of peat through
which they must plow with the mud
sucking at their feet. II was hard.
wearing toll. There was nothing to do
but keep moving. The young man
staggered forward TIL dusk. Utterly
exhausted. he camped for the night on
Q hlilock Of moss that rose like an
island II the swamp.
Elliot travelled next day BY the com.
pass. He Ind food for three days
more. but he knew that no living man
had the strength to travel for 10 long
In such morass. II was near mid.
dny when no lost his horse. The AMI.
mai hnd begged down several times
and Gordon hnd wasted much time and
spent good deal Of needed energy In
drngging II to hrmer footing. This time
tho pony refused to answer the whip.
Its mnster unioaded pack and saddie.
He tried coaxing; he tried the whip.
"Comc. Old!Timcr. One plunge. and
you'll make II yet" he urged.
The pack.horsc turned upon him
dumb eyea Of rcpronch. struggled to
free IL limbs from the mud. and snnk
down helplessiy. II had travelled Its
last yard on the long Alaska trails.
After the sound Of the shot Ind died
away, Gordon struggled with tho pack
to the nearest hummock. He cut holes
In n Eunny-sack to fit his shoulders
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