Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-07-16
CHAPTER li--continued.


The thought sobered and halted her.
She glanced once ar the dark face of
her companion. Dan couldn't under
stand the strange light that suddenly
geaped to her eyes. Perhaps she her
self couldn't have explained the wave
Of tenderness that swept over her
with no cause except the look in Dams
earnest gray eyes and the lines that
cnt so deep. Since the world was new,
IT has been the boast of the boldest of
men that they looked their Fate in the
face And this Is no mean looking. For
fate is a sword from the darkness. a
power that reaches out of the mystery,
and cannot be classed with sights Of
human origin. 1t burns out the eyes
of all but the strongest men. Yet Dan
was looking at his fate now, and his
eyes held straight.
They wa1ked together down TO the
ruined house, and the three of them
sat silent while the fire burned red.
Then Lennox turned to them with q
half smile.
You're wasting time, you two" he
said Remember, all our food is gone.
If you start now, and walk hard, may
be you can make it out"
There are several things to do
first" Dan answered simply.
II don't know what they are It isn't
going to be any picnic, Dan A man
can travel only so far without food to
keep up his strength, particularly over
such ridges as you have to cross. 1t
will be easy to give up and die It's
the test man; it's the test"
And what about your" his daugh-
ter asked.
"Oh, I'll be all right. Besides-it's
the only thing that can be done.
can't walk, and you can't carry me on
your backs. What else remains? I'll
stay here-and I'll scrape together
enough wood to keep a fire. Then you
can bring help"
He kept his eyes averted when he
talked. He was afraid for Dan 10 see
them, knowing that he could read the
iie in them.
How do you expect TO find wood
in This snow?" Dan asked him. at will
lake four days to get out; do you
thnk you could lie here and battle
with a fire for four days, and then four
days more that 1t viii 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 night. Besides-this Is
10 time for an unarmed man to be
alone in the hills"
Lennox's voice grew pleading. "Be
sensible. Dan y he cried. THAT
transforms 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 I can't even hope to. But if you
bring my daughter through--and when
Snring comes, pay what we owe to
Cr5uston-Pll be content Heavens,
son-Ive lived my life. The old pack
leader dies wheu his time comes, and
20 does a man."
His daughter crept to him and shell
tered his gray head against her
breast. "I'll stay with you, then she
cried.
Don't be a little fool, Snowbird,"
he urged. My clothes are wet al
ready from the melted snow. It's too
long way-it viii be too hard fight,
and children-Tm old and tired out.
don't want to make the try-hunger
aal cold; and even if you'd stay here
ma grub wood. Snowbird, they'd find
y both dead when they came back IN
week. We can't live without fec /,
al. work and keep warm--and tn re
fat living creature III the hts"
Except the wolves" Dan reminded
h.a
Except the wolves" Lennox
.#oed. Remember. we're unarmed-
PM they'd find 1t out, You're young
sao"bird, and so is Dan-and you
"7 viii be happy. / know how things
t.4 You two--more than you know
9+Fselyes-and in the end youH be
Hainy' But me-I'm too tired L.
maze the try. don't care about it
-'4gh. I'm going to wave you good
\, and smile, and lie here and let the
. come down. You feel warm In a
ate while"
'4t she stopped his lips with her
' And he bent and kissed It.
Il anybody's going to stay with
Dan told them in a clear. firm
e Its going to be me. But aren't
Of the cabins occupied?y
leu know they aren't" Lennox an
4feQ- Not even the houses beyond
Worth Fork, even If we could get
The nearest help is over sew
eg niles"
Snowbird. think Haven't any
es been left in the ranger sta
g, one thing" the girl told hira.
snow Cranston and his crowd
lae place last winter. And the
lines were disconnected
the rangers left"