The Jasper news., 1921-07-07
Copyright. 1870. by Little. Brown & C

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. mushing
across the moonlit snow, It would give
him the most savage Joy to open fire
upon him with his rife.
Dams keen eyes searched the thick
cts. and particularly they watched the
sky line for a faint glare that might
mean camp fire. He tried to walk
silently. 1t wasn't an easy thing to
do with awkward snowshoes; but the
river drowned the little noise that he
made. He tried TO take advantage Of
the shelter Of the thickets and the
trees. Then, at the base OF a little
ridge, he came to a sudden halt.
He had estimated just right. Not
two hundred yards distant, camp
fire filckered and glowed In the shell
ter of a great log. He saw 1t, by the
most astounding good fortune, through
little rift IN the trees. Ten feet on
either side, and 1t was obscured.
He lost no time. He did not know
when the wolves about Snowbird's
camp would lose the last Of their
cowardice. Yet he knew he must keep
tight grip on his self-control and
not let the necessity Of haste cost him
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
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 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. II isn't easy
to advance through such thickets with
out ever a misstep, without the rustic
| of branch or the crack Of q 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 a human quality. and a
spectator would have found rather
CHASTITY fascination in watching the
1.-THE motions, the passioniess face, the
hands that didn't shake at all. But
there were no spectntors-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
the snow and softly removed his snow
shoes. They would be only an impedi-
ment in the close work that was sure
to follow. He slid along the snow
crust, cienr 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 q
tree-bough pallet near the rear wall
There was not the slightest doubt OF
the mans wakefulness. Dan heart
him stir, and once--as II at the mem
ory of his deed Of. the day before-h'
cursed In a savage whisper. Although
he was facing the opening Of the lean
to, he was wholly unaware OF Dan'i
presence. The latter had thrust hil
head at the side OF the opening. ant
1t was In shadow. Cranston scenes
to be watching the great, white snow
fields that lay In front, and for a mo
ment Dan was at loss to explain thi
seeming vigil. Then he understood
e The white field before him was par
e of the long ridge that the three o
}, them would pass on their way to tn
4 valleys. Cranston had evidently an
I ticipated that the girl and the ma
e would attempt to march out-eyen
I he hadn't guessed they would try {
i take the helpless LennOx with them
and he wished to be prepared 10
d emergencies. There might be sport {
e have with Dan, unarmed as he |al
S And his eyes were full Of strange cor
4 lectures in regard to Snowbird. Bot
IS would he exhausted now and helpless
g Dams eyes encompassed the room
E. the piles of provisions heaped againi
s the wall, the snow shoes beside III
I pallet but most OF all he wished
l. locate Cranston's rifle. Success {
p failure hung ON that He couldn
> find 1t at first. Then he saw the gli
g ter Of its barrel in the moonlight
II leaning against a grub box poss;si
Il six feet from Cranston and 10 fro
Is himself.
D. His heart ieaped. The hest he he
{. hoped for-for the sake OF Snowbir