The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-05-13

Upright. 1870. by Little. Brown 8 C

his victory. He crept forward, step
by step, placing his snowshoes with
consummate care. When he was one
hundred yards distant he saw that
Cranston's camp was situated beside
a little stream that flowed into the
river and that-like the mountaineer
he was-he had built large lean-to
reinforced with snOwbanks. The fire
burned at its opening. CranstOn was
not in sight; either he was absent
from camp or asleep in his lean-tO.
The latter seemed the more likely.
Dan made a wide detour, coming in
about thirty yards behind the construc-
ton. Still he moved with incredible
caution. Never In his life had he pos
sessed greater mastery over his own
nerves. His heart leaped somewhat
| fast in his own breast; but this was
the only wasted motion. It isn't easy
TO advance through such thickets with
ont ever a misstep, without the rustic
of a branch or the crack of twig.
Certain of the wild creatures find It
easy; but men have forgotten how In
too many centuries of cities and farms
1t is hardly human quality, and a
spectator would have found rather
CHASTITY fascination in watching the
1.-THE motions, the passlonless face, the
hands that didn't shake at ALL But
there were no spectatOrs-unless the
little band of wolves, stragglers from
the pack that had gathered on the hills
behind-watched with lighted eyes.
Dan went down at full length upon
che snow and softly removed his snow
shoes. They would be only an impede
ment In the close work that was sure
to follow. He slid along the snow
crust, clear to the mouth of the lean-to.
The moonlight poured through and
showed the interior with rather re-
markable plainness. Cranston was
sprawled, half-sitting, half-lying on a
tree-bough pallet near the rear wall.
There was not the slightest doubt of
the mans wakefulness. Dan heard
him stir, and once-as IL at the men,
DRY of his deed of the day befOre-he
cursed In a savage whisper. Although
he was facing the opening Of the lean
to, he was wholly unaware of Dams
presence The latter had thrust his
head at the side of the opening. and
"a fv, ,h 20 nctn OH
to be watching the great, white snow
fields that lay in front, and for a mo-
ment Dan was at loss to explain this
seeming vigil. Then he understood
The white field before him was part
of the long ridge that the three of
them would pass on their way to the
valleys Cranston had evidently an
ticipated that the girl and the man
would attempt to march Out--even II
he hadn't guessed they would try to
take the helpless Lennox with them
and he wished to be prepared fol
emergencies. There might be sport tc
have with Dan, unarmed as he was
And his eyes were full of strange con
lectures In regard to Snowbird. Both
would be exhausted now and helpless
Dams eyes encompassed the room.
the piles of provisions heaped against
the wall, the snow shoes beside the
pallet, but most of all he wished tC
locate Cranston's rifle. Success o.
failure hung on that. He couldnN
find 1t at first. Then he saw the gilt
ter of its barrel In the moonlight
leaning against a grub box possibly
six feet from Cranston and 10 from
himself.
His heart leaped. The best he hat
hoped for-for the sake of Snowbird
not himself-was that he would b.
nearer to the gun than Cranston ant
would be able to seize 1t first. Blu
conditions could be greatly worse thai
they were. II Cranston had actual,
had the weapon In his hands, the odd
of battle would have been frightfull.
against Dan. 1t takes certain lengu
of time to seize, swing, and aim RI
fie; and Dan felt that while he woul'
be unable to reach 1t himself, Gran
! ston could not procure 1t either, with
out giving Dan an opportunity to leal
upon him. In all his dreams, through
: the months of preparation, he had pic
tured ii thus. 1t was the test at last
j The gun might be loaded, and still
In these days of safety devices-un
ready to fire; and the loss of frac
4 ton Of a second might enable Gran
I ston to reach his knife. Thus DaI
:. felt justified in ignoring the gun alto
2 gether and trusting-as he had mos
e desired-to a battle Of hands. And b
wanted both hands free when he mad
his attack.
II Dan had been erect upon his fee
e his course would have been an imms
I date leap on the shoulders Of his &C
versary. running the risk Of Cransto
Q reaching his hunting knife In tim'
e But the second that he would requir
e TO get to his feet would entirely offse
I this advantage. Cranston could sprin
e up, too. So he did the next most di'
e arming thing.
He sprang up and strobe into th
u lean-to.
p cro BE coNTINUED)
All