The Bossier banner., 1921-07-14
CHAPTER III.

Dan Failing was never more thank
full for his unerring sense of direction.
He struck off at forty-five-degree
angle between their late course aud
direct road to the river, and he kept
1t as II by surveyors line. All the
old devices of the wilderness-the
ridge on ridge that looked just alike,
inclines that to the casual eye looked
like downward slopes, streams that
vanished beneath the snow. and the
snow-mist blowing across the face OF
the landmarks-could not avail /
against him.
A half dozen Of the wolves followed
him at first. But perhaps their fierce
eyes marked his long stride and his i
powerful body. and decided that their
better chance was with the helpless
man and the girl beside the flickering
fire. They turned back. one by one.
Dan kept straight on and in two hours
crossed Cranston's trail. He didn't
doubt but that he would find Gran
ston in his camp. If he found the camp
at all. The man had certainly re-
turned to 1t Immediately after setting
fire to the buildings, II for no other
| reason than for food. It isn't well
to be abroad on the wintry mountains
| without supply OF food and Gran
ston would certainly know this fact.
Dan didn't know when rifle bullet
| from some camp In the thickets would
! put an abrupt end to his advance. The
brush grew high by the river. the ele-
vation was considerably lower. and
there might be one hundred camps out
Of the sight Of the casual wayfarer:
/ If Cranston should see him. mushing
across the moonlit snow. It would give
him the most savage joy to open IRE
upon him with his rifle.
/ Dams keen eyes searched the thick
cts, and particularly they watched the
sky line for faint glare that might
mean camp FIRE. He tried to walk
silently. It 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 sudden halt.
i He had estimated just right Not
| two hundred yards distant camp
FIRE flickered and glowed In the shell
ter of a great log. He saw It. by the
most astounding good fortune. through
a little rift In the trees. Ten feet on
either side, and It was obscured.
He lost no time. He did not know
when the wolves about Snowbird's
u camp would lose the last of their
cOwardice. Yet he knew he must keep
a tight grip ON his seIf-control and
not let the necessity of haste cost him
j his victory. He crept forward, step
. by step. placing his snowshoes with
consummate care. When he was one
hundred yards distant he saw that
j Cranston's camp was situated beside
. little stream that flowed into the
river and that--like the mOuntaineel
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 Il
I about thirty yards behind the construc
] tion. Still he moved with incredibl,
caution. Never in his life had he pos
i. sessed greater mastery over his owl
e nerves. His heart leaped somewha
Q fast in his own breast; but this wa
the only wasted motion. It isn't eas,
e to advance through such thickets with
! cut ever a misstep. without the rustl
s of a branch or the crack of a twig.
6 Certain Of the wild creatures find
o easy: but men have forgotten how +
q too many centuries of cities and farm.
L It Is hardly human quality, and
l. spectator would have found rathe
d chastity fascination in watching til
IS 1.-THE motions, the passionless face, Il,
r hands that didn't shake at all. Bu
there were no spectators--unless ttl
r little band of wolves, stragglers frol
is the pack that had gathered on the hill
ls behind watched with lighted eyes.
10 Dan went down at full length upo
le the snow and softly removed his sno'
= shoes. They would be only an imped
ID nent iE the close work that was SUI
le to follow. He slid along the sn0
Is crust. clear to the mouth of the lean-t
n The moonlight poured through an
an showed the interior with rather =
70 markable plainness. Cranston W.
es sprawled. half-sitting, half-lying on
60 tree-bough pallet near the rear wa
There was not the slightest doubt |
as the mans wakefulness. Dan heal
elf him stir. and once-as II at the mel
ng ory of his deed Of the day before
ed cursed in savage whisper. AlthOu.
III he was facing the opening of the lea
re to. he was wholly unaware Of DaI
as presence. The latter had thrust =
en- head at the side Of the opening. Al
re II was In shadow. CranstOn seem
int to be watching the great. white snt
sbt fields that lay In front, and for q q
laf ment Dan was at loss to explain Il
ia, seeming vigil. Then be understOt