Williams news., 1921-08-26
CHAPTER IT.

Of those mysterious fOgS that some times sweep over the snow.
 But it looks like smoke" Snowbird
 said.
 "But it couldn't be. The trees are
 too wet to burn.'' .'
 But then a sound that at first was
 just the faintest whisper in which
 neither of them would let themselves
 believe, became distinct past all deny ing. It was that menacing crackle of great fire, that in the whole world of
 sounds is perhaps the most terrible
 Its our house." Snowbird told him..
 And father can't get out-'' z.
 She spoke very quietly Perhaps the most terrible truths of life are al- ways spoken in that same quiet voice. Then both of them started across the snow as fast as their unwieldy snow shoes would permit.
 "He can crawl little," Dan called to her. Don't give up, Snowbird mine. I think he'll be safe.'' ,t
 They mounted to the top of the ridge; and the long sweep of the for est was revealed to them. The house. was singular tall pillar of flame, al- ready glowing that dreadful red from which firemen, despairing, turn away. Then the girl seized his hands and danced about him in a mad circle.
 He's aliveI'' she cried. You can see him-juSt dot on the snow. He crawled out to safety-'
 She turned and sped at a breakneck pace down the ridge. Dan had to race to keep up with her. But it wasn't en- tirely wise to try to mush so fast. A dead log lay beneath the snow with broken limb stretched almost to it's surface, and it caught her snowshOe. rT~l, forward in the snow. But she wasn't hurt, and the snowshoe itself, in spite of small crack in the wood, was still serviceable.
 Haste makes waste,'' he told her. "Keep your feet on the ground, Snow bird; the house is gone already and your father is safe. Remember what lies before uS.''
 The thought sobered and halted her. She glanced once at the dark face of her companion. Dan couldn't, under stand the strange light that suddenly leaped 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 gray eyes and the lines that cut so Geep- Since the world was new, 1t 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. It burns out the eyes of all but the strongest men. YetHDan was looking at his fate now and his | eyes held straight.
 They walked together down to4 the 1 ruined house. and the three of them ! sat silent while the fire burned red. Then Lennox turned to them with a | half-smile.
 You're wasting time. you two" he | safd 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
 'I 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. It will be easy to give up and die. It's the test, man it's the test"
 And what about you?" his daugh- ter asked.
 "Oh, I'll be all right. Besides-its the only thing that can De done. CdH Wdlh, ana you C31ls C:lJi'y que Ull your backs. What else remains? I'll stay here-and I'll scrape together enough wood to keep 6 fire. Then you can bring help"
 He kept his eyes averted when he talked. He was afrati for Dan to see them, knowing that he could read the lie in them.
 "How do you expect to find wood In this snow?'' Dan asked him. Ut will take four days to get out; do you think you could lie here and battle with fire for four days, and then four lays more that 1t will take to come pack? You'd have two choices: to ourn green wood that I'd cut for you before I left, or the rain-soaked dead wood under the snow. You couldn't xeep either one of them burning, and you'd die in a night. Besides-this is lo time for an unarIned man to be alone in the hills."
 Lennoxs voice grew pleading. 'Be sensible, Dan !" he cried. That | Jranston's got us, and got us right I've only one thing more I care about and that is that you pay the debt! ant hope to get out myself. I say hat can't even hope to. But if you ,ring my daughter through-and when spring comes, pay what we owe to be content. Heavens. lived my life. The old pack eader dies wheu his time comes, and