The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-01-20

the test, man It's the resi-.
"And what about you?" his daugh
ter asked.
"Oh, I'll be all right. Besides-it's
the only thing that can be done !
can't walk, and yeu can't carry me on
your backs. What else remains7 IN
stay here-and Ill 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 to see
them, knowing that he could read the
lie In them.
''How do you expect to find wood
in this snow7" Dan asked him. at 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
back7 You'd have two choices: to
burn green wood that I'd cut for you
before left. or the rain-soaked dead
wood under the snow. You couldn't
keep either one of them burning, and
you'd die In a 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 II you
bring my daughter through-and when
spring comes. pay what we owe to
Cranston-Fll be content Heavens.
son-rve lived my life. The old pack
leader dies wheu his time comes, and
so does a man."
His daughter crept to him and shell
tered his gray head against her
breast. "I'D stay with you. then" she
cried.
Don't he a little fool. Snowbird.'
he urged. MY clothes are wet al
ready from the melted snow. It's too
long a way-it will he too hard fight.
and children-Pm 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 back 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. "Rememher we're unarmed-
and they'd find It out. You're young.
Snowbird. and so is Dan-and you
two will he happy. | know how things
are. you two-more than you know
yOurselves-and in the end you'll he
happy. But me-I'm too tired TO
make the try. I don't care about IL
enough. I'm going to wave you coed
by, and smile. and lie here and let the
little while"
But she stopped his lips with her
hand. And he bent and kissed 1t.
IF anybody's going to stay with
you," Dan told them in clear. firm
voice. "it's going to be me. But aren't
any Of the cabins occupied?"
"You know they aren't" Lennox an
swered. mot 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?"
mot 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 a fair chance Of get
ting through. I'll grub wood for our
camp meanwhile. and you can bring
help"
"And II 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
Cranston7"
''But her life counts-first Of ALL"
''I know II does-but mine doesn't
count at all. Believe me, you two.
I'm speaking from my own desires
when I say I don't want to make the
fight. Snowbird would never make II
through alone. There are the wolves.
and maybe Cranston too-the worst
wolf Of all. A woman can't mush
across those ridges four DAYS without
food, without some one who loves her
and forces her onI Neither can she
stay here with me and try to make
green branches burn in a 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.
II know another way vet. ! know
more than one way; but one. II 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"
"TiI cut limb with my jackknife
for the handle. There will be nails