Charlevoix county herald., 1921-01-21


your backs. What else remains? I'll
stay here-and I'll scrape together
enough wood to keep fire. Then you
can bring help"
He kept his eyes averted when he
talked. He was afraid for Dan TO see
them, knowing that he could read the
lie In them.
"How do you expect to find wood
In this snowf" Dan asked him. 1T will
take four days to get out do you
think you could lie here and battle
with fire for four days. and then four
days more that 1t will take to come
back? You'd have two choices: to
burn green wood that I'd cut for you
before l left, or the rain-soaked dead
wood under the snow. You couldn't
keep either one of them burning. and
you'd die in q night. Besides--this is
no time for an unarmed man to be
alone In the hills"
Lennox's voice grew pleading. "Be
sensible, Dan" he cried. "That
Cranston's got us, and got us right
I've only one thing more care about
and that Is that you pay the debt!
can't hope to get out myself. say
that l can't even hope to. But If you
bring my daughter through-and when
spring comes. pay what we owe to
Cranston-Pll be content. Heavens,
son--Ive lived my life. The old pack
leader dies wheu his time comes, and
SO does q man."
His daughter crept to him and shell
tered his gray head against her
breast. "I'll stay with you, them" she
cried.
"Don't>be little fool. Snowbird,"
he urged. "My clothes are wet al
ready from the melted snow. It's too
long a way--it will be too hard fight.
and children--Im old and tired out.
don't want to make the try-hunger
and cold; and even If you'd stay here
and grub wood. Snowbird. they'd find
us both dead when they came hack In
week. We can't live without food,
and work and keep warm-and there
isn't living creature In the hills"
Except the wolves" Dan reminded
him.
Except the wolves" LennOx
echoed. Remember. we're unarmed-
and they'd find II out. You're young,
Snowbird. and so is Dan--and you
two will he happy. ! know how things
ares you twO-more than you know
yOurselves-and in the end you'll he
ha D,,t m
make the try. ! don't care about II
enough I'm going 70 wave you good
by, and smile. and lie here and let the
cold come down. You feel warm in a
little while"
But she stopped his lips with her
hand. And he bent and kissed II.
IF anybody's going to stay with
YOU" Dan told them In a clear. firm
voice, "it's going to he me. But aren't
any of the cabins occupied?"
"You know they aren't" Lennox an
swered. Not even the houses beyond
the North Fork. even If we could get
across. The nearest help is over sew
enty miles"
"And Snowbird. think Haven't any
supplies been left in the ranger sta
tion?'
"NOt one thing" the girl told him.
"You know CranstOn and his crowd
robbed the place last winter. And the
telephone lines were disconnected
when the rangers left"
"Then the only way is for me to
stay here. You can take the pistol,
and you'll have fair chance of get
ting through. I'll grub wood for our
camp meanwhile. and. you can bring
help"
"And If the wolves come. or If help
didn't come in time," Lennox whis-
pered passion-drawn for the first
time. "who would pay what we owe to
Cranston?"
"But her life counts-first Of ALL"
81 know II loes-but mine doesn't
count at all. Believe me, you two.
I'm speaking from my own desires
when I say don't want to make the
fight Snowbird would never make II
through alone. There are the wolves.
and maybe CranstOn tOo-the wor>,
wolf of all. A woman can't mush
across those ridges four davs without
food. without some one who loves her
and forces her on Neither can she
stay here with me and try to make
green branches burn in n fire. She's
got three little pistol balls-and we'd
all die for whim. Oh, please,
please"
But Dan leaped for his hand with
glowing eyes. Listen. man !" he cried.
81 know another way yet. know
more than one way: hut one. If we've
got the strength, Is almost sure. There
Is an AK in the kitchen. and the blade
will still be good"
Likely duIled with the fire"
"I'll cut a limb with my jackknife
for the handle. There will he nails
In the ashes plenty Of them. We'll
make rude sledge, and Wen get you
out too"
Lennox seemed to he studying his
wasted hands. "It's chance. hut n
isn't worth IT," he said at last. you'll
have fight enough without tuggine AT
heavy sled. II will take all night
To hpf nd