Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-10-27
CHAPTER II-contlnued.

She glanced once at the dark face of
her companion. Dan couldn't under
stand the strange light that suddenly
leaped to her eyes. Perhaps she her
self couldn't have explained the wave
of 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,
1t has been the boast of the boldest Of
men that they looked their Fate in the
face. And this is no mean looking. For
fate is a sword from the darkness, a
power that reaches out of the mystery,
and cannot be classed with sights Of
human origin. 1t burns out the eyes
of all but the strongest men. Yet Dan
was looking at his fate now, and his
eyes held straight
They wa1ked together down to the
ruined house, and the three of them
sat silent while the fire burned red.
Then Lennox turned to them with a
half-smile.
you're wasting time, you two" he
said. Remember, all our food is gone.
If you start now, and walk hard, may
be you can make it out"
There are several things to do
first" Dan answered simply.
81 don't know what they are. It isn't
going to be any picnic, Dan. A man
can travel only so far without food to
keep up his strength, particularly over
such ridges as you have to cross. 1t
will be easy to give up and die. It's
the test, man; it's the test"
"And what about your" his daugh-
ter asked.
ooh, I'll be all right. Besides-it's
the only thing that can be done. I
can't walk, and you can't carry me on
your backs. What else remains? I'll
stay here-and I'll 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 SNOWY Dan asked him. ''It will
take four days to get out; do you
think you could lie here and battle
with a fire for four days, and then four
days more that it will take to come
back? You'd have two choices: to
burn green wood that I'd cut for you
before 1 left, or the rain-sOaked dead
wood under the snow. You couldn't
keep either one of them burning, and
you'd die in night Besides-this is
no time for an unarmed man to be
alone in the hills"
Lennox's voice grew pleading. "Be
sensible, Danw 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 j! l
can't hope to get out myself. l say
that can't even hope to. But if you
firing my daughter thrOugh-and when
epring comes, pay what we owe to
CranstOn-Tll be content. Heavens,
son-Tve 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'n stay with you, then" she
cried.
Don't be a little fool, SnOwbird,"
Ne urged. my clothes are wet al
ready from the melted snow. It's too
long a y--it will be too hard fight,
and chlldreh-Tm old and tired out. l
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
a week. We can't live without food
and work and keep warm-and there
Isn't a hving creature in the hills"
Except the wolves" Dan reminded
tim.
except the wolves" LennOx
echoed. Remember, we're unarmed-
and they'd find it out. You're young,
Snowbird, and so is Dan-and you
two will be happy. know how things
are, you twO-mOre than you know
yourselves-and In the end you'll be
happy. But me-I'm too tired to
make the try. / don't care about It
enough. I'm going to wave you good
by, and smile, and lie here and let the
cold come down. You feel warm in
little while"
But she stopped his lips with her
hand. And he bent and kissed it.
IF anybody's going to stay with
YOU" Dan told them in a clear. firm
voice, ''its going to be me. But aren't
any Of the cabins occupied?"
''You know they aren't" Lennox an
swered. "Not 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
tionY'
"NOt one thing" the girl told him.
"You know Cranston and his crowd
robbed the place last winter. And the
telephone lines were disconnected
.~hen the rangers left"