The state herald., 1921-01-25


est was revealed to them. The house
was singular tall pillar OF flame, al
ready glowing that dreadful red from
which fremen, despairing. turn away.
Ihen the girl seized his hands and
danced about him In mad circle.
Hes alive!' she cried. You can
see him-just dot on the snow. He
crawled out to safety"
She turned and sped at breakneck
pace down the ridge. Dan had to race
to Keep up with her. But 1t wasn't en-
ureiy wise to try to mush so fast. A
dead log lay beneath the snow with a
broken limb stretched almost to its
surface, and 1t caught her snowshoe.
The wood cracked sharply, and she fell
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 u.s."
She glanced once at the dark face of
her companion. Dan couldn't under.
stand the strange light that suddenly
ieaped to her eyes. Perhaps she her.
self couldn't have explained the wave
or tenderness that swept over her
with no cause except the look in Dams
earnest gray eyes and the lines that
cut so deep. Since the world was new,
II has been the boast of the boldest of
men that they looked their Fate in the
1ace. And this Is no mean looking. For
fate Is a sword from the darkness. a
power that reaches out of the mystery,
ana cannot be classed with sights of
human origin. 1t burns out the eyes
or all but the strongest men. Yet Dan
was looking at his fate now. and his
eyes held straight.
They walked together down to the
ruined house, and the three of them
sat silent while the fire burned red.
iheh Lennox turned to them with
half-smile.
You're wasting time. you two," he
said. Remember, all our food is gone.
II You start now. and walk hard, may
ne You can make ii out"
There are several things to do
FIRST" Dan answered simply.
u don't know what they are. II isn't
going 10 he any picnic. Dan. a man
can travel only so far without food TO
keep up his strength. particularly over
such ridges MS you have to cross. II
VIII be easy TO give up and die. It's
the lest, man; it's the test"
And what about youf" his daugh.
ter asked.
"oh, I'll be all right. Besides-it's
'he only thins that can be done. I
can't walk. and you can't carry me on
your backs. What else remainsf III
stay here-and ri scrape together
enough wood TO keep n fire. Then you
cfn 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 snow?" Dan asked him. 1T will
tnRe four days TO get out; do you
mink you could lie here and battle
with fire for four days, and then four
uays more that 1t will take To come
back? You'd have two choices: to
burn green wood that I'd cut for you
before ! left, or the raln-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. "Thut
Cranston's got us. and got us right.
I've only one thing more ] care about
and t1iat is that you pay the debt
can't hope TO get out myself say
mat | can't even hope to. But II you
bring my daughter hrough-and when
spring comes. pay what we owe TO
cranston-I'il be content. Heavens
son--l've lived my lie. The old pack
leader dies when his time comes, and
so does man.
Ills daughter crept to him and shell
tered his gray head ngnlnst her
breast. "ill stay with you, then" she
cried.
Don't be little fool, snowblrd,'
he urged. My clothes nre wet al
ready from the melted snow. It's too
long way-it will he too hard n fight,
and children-l'm old and tired out.
don't want to make the try-hunger
and cold; and even II you'd stay here
nnd grub wood, Snowblrd. 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. Remember, we're unarmed-
and they'd find It out You're young,
Snowblrd, and SO is Dnn-and you