The state herald., 1920-02-01
CHAPTER III.

Dan Failing was never more thank
ful for his unerring sense of direction.
He struck or at forty-five-degree
angle between their late course and a
direct road TO the river, and he kept
1t rs II by a surveyors line. All the
Did devices Of the wilderness-th
ridge on ridge that looked just alike.
incllnes that TO the casual eye looked
like downward slopes. streams that
sanished beneath the snow, and the
snow-mist blowing across the face Of
the landmarls--could not avail
against him.
A half dozen If the wolves followed
aim at first. But perhaps their fierce
eyes marked his long stride and his
powerful body. and decided that their
better chance was with the helpless
nan and the girl beside the tllckering
IRE. They turned back. one by one.
Dan kept straight on and In two hours
crossed Crnnston's trail. lie didn't
doubt but that he would find Gran
son In his camp. II he found the camp
at all. The man had certainly re-
uTnei 10 1t Immediately after setting
llre 10 the buildings. II for no other
reason than for food. II isn't well
10 be abroad on the win,ry mountains
without a supply Of food: and Gran
ston would certainly know this fact.
Dan didn't know when rifle bullet
rom some camp In the riilckets would
put an abrupt end TO his advance. The
brush grew high by the river, the ele-
walton was considerably lower. and
there might be one hundred camps out
of the sight Of the casual wayfarer.
II Cranston should see him. mushlng
lcross the moonlli snow, II would give
him the most savage JOY TO open fire
upon him with HIS rifle.
Dams Keen eyes searched the thick
,is, and particularly they Watched the
sky line FOR n faint glare that might
mean camp Ere. He tried TO walk
silently II wasn't an easy thing to
10 with awkward snowshoes: but the
rlyer drowned the little noise that he
made. ille tried TO take advantage Of
the shelter OF the ihlckcts aud the
trees. Then. at the base OF little
ridge. he came 10 sudden halt.
He hud estimated Just right. MOI
Two hundred yards distant. camp
IRE ilckered md glowcd In the shcl.
ter Of great loE He saw II. by the
mos, astounding good fortuns, through
little rift In the trees. Ten feet on
either side. and Il was obscured.
He lost no time. He dld no, know
when the wolves about Snowblrd's
camp would lose the last OF their
cowardlce. Yet he knew he must keep
a tight grip on his self-cnnirol and
not let the necessity NJ haste cost him
his victory. He ercpt forward. step
by step. placing his snowshoes with
consrmmnie care. when he was one
hundred yards distant he saw that
Cranstons camp was situated beside
a little stream that flowed into the
river md thni-llkc the monninineer
be was-he had built large lean.to
reinforced with snowbnnks. The Ore
burned q, us opening. Crnnsion was
not In sight; either he was nbsen,
from camp or asleep IN his icnnto.
The latter seemed the more likely.
Dan mndc wide dciour, coming In
about thirty yards behind the cons,ruc.
iion. sun he moved with Incredible
caution. Never In his life had he pos.
scssed greater mastery over his own
nerves His heart lcnpcd somewhat
fast In his own breast: but this was
the only wasted motion. II Isn't easy
to advance through such thickets with.
out ever fnIsstcp. without the rustic
of brunch or the crack OF n twig.
Certain OF the Wild creatures ind I,
easy: but men hnve forgotten how In
too many centuries Of cities nnd farms.
II Is hardly human quality. and n
spectator would have found n rather
ghnstly fascination In watching the
1.-THE motions. the pnssionlcss face, the
hnnds TINT didn't shnk. nt nil, But
there were no spcctn,ors-unicss the
little band Of wolves. straggiers from
the pnck TINT hnd gathered on the hills
bchlnd-wniched with lighted eyes.
Dnn went down nj full length upon
the snow and softly removed his snow
shoes. They would be only mn lmpcdi.
mept in the close work TINT wns sure
to follow. lie slid along the snow
crust. clear 10 the mouth Of the lenn.to.
The moonlight, poured through and