American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-05-20

-NDN $1,000
when the wolves about Snowbird's
camp would lose the last of their
cowardice. Yet he knew he must keep
a tight grip on his s~elf-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
a little stream that flowed into the
river and that-like the mountaineer
he was-he had built a large lean-to
reinforced with s%nowbanks. 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- !
ion. Still he moved with incredible
caution. Never in his life had he pos
sessed a greater mastery over his own
nerves. His heart Ieaped somewhat
fast in his own breast; but this was
the only wasted motion. 1t isn't easy
to advance through such thickets with
out ever a misstep, without the rustic
of a branch or the crack of a twig.
Certain of the wild creatures find 1t
easy; but men have forgotten how in
too many centuries of cities and farms.
1t is hardly a human quality, and q
spectator would have found a rather
CHASTITY fascination in watching the
1.-THE motions, the p~assionless face, the
hands tbat didn't Sbaka OF oil put
there were no spectators-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, 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
t~ree-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 mem
DRY of his deed of the day before-he
cursed in a savage whisper. Although
he was facing the opening of the lean
to. he was wholly w of Dams
presence. The latter had thrust his
head at the side of the opening, and
il was In shadow. Cranston seemed
TO be watching the great, white sno
fields that lay in front. and for a mo-
. ~. .v,r - loco. 20 ,yplpfn chic
seeming vigil Then he understood.
The white field before him was part
~ the rni.g rtdyn 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
he hadn't guessed they would try to
take the helpless Lennox with them
and he wished to be prepared fol
emergencies. There might be sport tC
have with Dan, unarmed as he was
And his eyes were full Of strange con
lectures in regard to Showbird. Boil
would be exhausted now and helpless
Dams eyes encompassed the room
the piles of provisions heaped agains
TIE WALL Tue SuOW SINUS bColuC lh'
pallet, but most of all he wished t
locate Cranston's rifle. Success o.
failure hung on that. He couldn'
find 1t at first. Then he saw the gilt
ter of its barrel in the moonlight
leaning against q grub box possibl.
six feet from Cranston and 10 iron
himself.
His heart leaped. The best he ha,
hoped for-for the sake of SnOwbird
not himself-was that he would b
nearer to the gun han Cranston an
would be able to seize it first. Blu
conditions could be greatly worse tina
they we're. If Cranston had actual
had the weapon In his hands, the odd
of battle would have been frightfull
against Dan. 1t takes a certain lengt
Of time to seize, swing, and aim a r
fle; and Dan felt that while he woul
be unable to reach II himself, Graz
ston could not procure 1t either, witt
out giving Dan ar opportunity to lea
upon him. IN all his dreams, throug
the months of preparation, he had pi,
tured it thus. 1t was the test at las
The gun might be loaded, and still
in these days Of safety devices-ul
ready to fire; and the loss Of a fra.
ton of a second might enable Graz
ston to reach his knife. Thus Da
felt justified in ignoring the gun alt
gether and trusting-as he had mo-
desired-to a battle Of hands. And
wanted both hands free when he mao
his attack.
If Dan had been erect upon his fee
his course would have been an imm
date leap On the shoulders Of his a
versary, running the risk Of Cranstt
reaching his hunting knife In tim
But the second hat he would requi
10 get to his feet would entirely ons
this advantage. Cranston could spril