Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-11-10

ughC grip on his self-contrOl and
not let the necessity Of haste cost him
his victory. He crept forward, steu
by step, placing his snowshoes with
consummate care. When he was one
hundred yards distant he saw that
Cranston's camp was situated beside
a 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 a wide detour coming in
about thirty yards behind the construc-
ton. Still he moved with Incredible
caution. Never in his life had he DOS
sessed a greater mastery over his own
nerves. His heart leaped somewhat
fast IN his own breast; but this was
the only wasted motion. It isn't easy
to advance through such thickets with
out ever a misstep, without the rustic
OF branch or the crack of a twig.
Certain Of the wild creatures find II
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 a ra+har
CHASTITY fascination in watching the
1.-the motions, the passionless face, the
hands that didn't shake at all. But
there were no pectatoRs-unless the
little band Of wolves, stragglers from
the pack that had gathered on the hills
Dehind-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, Clear 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 a
tree-bough pallet near the rear wall
There was not the slightest doubt Of
the mans wakefulness, Dan heard
him stir, and once-as If at the men,
ory of his deed Of the day before-he
cursed IN savage whisper. Although
he was facing the opening Of the lean
to, he was wholly unaware of Dams
presence. The latter had thrust his
head at the side Of the opening, and
1t was in shadow. Cranston seemed
to be watching the great, white snow
fields that lay in front, and for a mo-
ment Dan was at loss to explain this
seeming vigil. Then he understood.
The white field before him was part
OF the long ridge that the three of
them would pass on their way to the
valleys. Cranston had evidently an
ticipated that the girl and the man
would attempt to march out-even If
ne hadn't guessed they would try to
take the helpless LennOx with them
ana he wished to be prepared for |
emergencies. There might be sport to
nave with Dan, unarmed as he was. |
And his eyes were full of strange con-
lectures in regard to Snowbird. Both
would be exhausted now and helpless
Dams eyes encompassed the room:
-he piles of provisions heaped against
the wall, the snow shoes beside the
pallet, but most Of all he wished to
ocate Cranston's rifle. Success or
failure hung on that. He couldn't
Ind 1t at first. Then he saw the gilt
.er Of its barrel in the moonlight
Gaming against a grub box possibly
Xix feet from Cranston and 10 from
himself.
His heart leaped. The best he had
Hoped for-fOr the sake of Snowbird,
lot himself-was that he would be
learer to the gun than .Cranston and
would be able to seize it first. But
conditions could be greatly worse than
hey were. If Cranston had actually
lad the weapon in his hands, the odds
4 battle would have been frightfully
gainst Dan. 1t takes a certain length
4 time to seize, swing, and aim a RI
le; and Dan felt that while he would
e unable to reach It himself, Gran
ton could not procure 1t either, with
ut giving Dan an opportunity to leap
pom him. In all his dreams, through
he months Of preparation, he had pic
lred it thus. It was the test at last.
The gun might be loaded, and still
these days of safety devIces-un-
eady to fire; and the loss Of a frac-
on Of a second might enable Gran
ton to reach his knife. Thus Dan ,
cit justified in ignoring the gun alto !
ether and trusting-as he had most !
a battle of hands. And he :
'anted both hands free when he made !
Is attack.
If Dan had been erect upon his feet, ;
Is course would have been an imme- !
late leap on the shoulders Of his adj !
ersary, running the risk of Cranston ;
saching his hunting knife in time.
ut the second that he would require
} get to his feet would entirely offset
lis advantage. Cranston could spring
p, too. So he did the next most dis |
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