The review., 1919-08-14
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

However, hoped that the night
would restore my sight, and so, dis
missing the matter from my mind, /
struggled up until at last 1 stood upon
the summit of the hill. Far away, like
thin. winding ribbon among the hills,
| saw the valley of the Riviere dor.
Beneath me I saw Jacqueline wait
ing, a tiny figure upon the snow. l
cast my eyes beyond her toward the
mist-wrapped tops of the far Lauren
tians AMI the plains.
And a sense of an inevitable fate
CAME over me as perceived far away
tiny, crawling ant upon the SHOWS
Simon Leroux's dog sleigh.
went back to the little, patient fig
ure that was waiting for me, and I
took up my pack again and told her
nothing She stepped bravely out be-
side me, frozen, fatigued, but willing
because I bade her. She did not ask
anything Of me.
The sun dipped lower, and far away
heard the howl of the solitary wolf
again.
1 grtpped my pistols ~ we strobe
along
We went on and on. The afternoon
was wearing away; the sun was very
low now and all its strength had gone.
Courage, Jacqueline," said, patting
her arm. 1.-THE huts ought to be here"
Her courage was greater than my
own. She looked up and smiled at me.
The wolf crept nearer, and it's howls
rang out with piercing stroke across
the silence. My eyes ached so that L
could hardly discern the darken1ng
land, and the snow came down, not
steadily but in swirling eddies blown
on fierce gusts Of wind.
And suddenly raising my eyes de-
sparingly I saw the huts. There were
five of them, and they had not been oc-
cupied tor at least two seasons, for the
biackened timbers were falling apart
and the roofs had been torn off all but
one Of them, no doubt for fuel. The
wind was whirling the snow wildly
around them, and It whistled through
the broken, rotting walls.
I flung my pack inside the rooted
one, and began tearing apart the tim
0ers Of another to make q fire.
Jacqueltne, opening the pack, began
the preparation of our meal, which
consisted Of some biscuits left from
the night before, when we had made
quantity on the wood ashes. We
made tea over the roaring flames, and
sat listening to the VOLTS call and the
wind that drove our fire In gusts of
smoke and fame.
l scooped out a bed for Jacqueline
inside the snow-filled hut and spread
II with the big sleigh robe. She lay
uown In her fur coat, and l wrapped
the ends around her. looked into her
sweet face and marveled at it's seren-
lty. Her eyes closed wearily.
dreadfM fear held me in it's grip:
Wnat If she never awoke? Some people
died thus IN the snow. / raised the
sleigh robe and saw that the fur coat
Surred softly as she breathed.
AT last, out of the wild passions that
fought within me, decision was born.
would go on, because she had hidden
NE. And I would be ready for Le-
'oux and let him act as he saw fit.
-oaded my pistols. could do no more
.han fight for Jacqueline, and with God
De the issue.
"Paul!"
must have been half asleep. for
came back to myself with start and
Sprang to my feet. Jacqueline had
risen upon her knees; she flung her
arms out wildly, and suddenly she
taught her breath and screamed, and
stood up and ran uncertainty toward
ne with hands that groped for me.
she found me; 1 caught her, and she
pushed me from her and shuddered
anu stared at me in that uncertain
0ouDt that follows dreams.
., I am here, Jacqueline," said.
Win you-always, till you send me
%%"ay Remember that even in dreams,
Jacqueline."
sne knew me now, and she was re-
~SA4n& from me ouf through the hut