Charlevoix county herald., 1921-01-28

But no one answered him. The girl,
white-faced, kept her wide eyes on
Dan He seemed to be peering into the
shadows beside the trail. as If he were
watching for the gray forms that now
and then glided from tree to tree. In
reality, he was not looking for wolves.
He was gazing down into his own soul,
measuring his own spirit for the trial
that lay before him.
The girl. unable to step with the
broken snowshoe, rested her weight on
one foot and hobbled like bird with
broken wings across to him. No sight
of all this terrible journey had been
more dreadful in her fathers eyes
than this. 1t seemed to split open
the strong heart of the man. She
touched her hand to his arm.
I'm sorry, Dan." she told him "Yon
tried so hard"
Just one little sound broke from his
throat-a strange, deep gasp that
could not be suppressed. Then he
caught her hand In his and kissed it
again and again. "Do you think care
about that?" he asked her. II only
wish l could have done more-and
what l have done doesn't count. Just
as in my fight with CranstOn nothing
counts because l didn't win. It's just
fate, Snowbird. It's no ones fault, but
maybe, in this world, nothing is ever
anyone's fault" For in the twilight of
those winter woods. in the shadow of
death itself, perhaps he was catching
glimmerings of eternal truths that are
hidden from all but the most far-see-
ing eyes.
"And this is the end?" she asked
him. She spoke very bravely.
Nor His hand frightened on hers.
mo, so long as an ounce of strength
remains. To fight-never to give up
may God give me spirit for it till
die"
And this was no idle prayer. His
eyes raised to the starry sky as he
spoke.
But, son." Lennox asked him rath-
er quietly, what can you do? The
wolves aren't going to wait a great
deal longer, and we can't go on"
There's one thing more-one more
trial TO make" Dan answered. 81
thought about 1t at first, but it was too
long a chance to try if there was any
other way. And ! suppose you thought
Of ii too"
"Overtaking Cranston?"
"Of course. And ii sounds like
crazy dream. But listen, both of you.
If we have got to die, up here in the
snow-and il looks IKE we had-what
is the thing you want done worst be-
fore we go?"
Lennox's hands clasped, and he
leaned forward on the sled. 'Pay
CranstOn 7" he said.
"Yesl" Dams voice rang. Grams
tons never going to be paid unless we
do 1t. There will be no signs Of in
cendiarism at the house, and no
proofs. They'll find our bodies in the
snow, and We'll just be mystery
with no one made to pay. The evil
dence in my pocket will be taken by
Cranston, some time this winter. If
don't make him pay, he never will pay.
And that's one reason why I'm going
TO try to carry out this plan I've got.
"The second reason is that it's the
one hope we have left. take ii that
none of us are deceived on that point.
And no man can die tamely-if he is
a man-while there's q chance. / mean
a young man. like me-not one who is
old and tired. II sounds perfectly silly
to talk about finding Cranston's win
ter quarters. and then, with my bare
hands. conquering him, taking his food
and his blankets and his snowshoes
and his rifle. to fight away these
wolves, and bringing 'em back here"
You wouldn't be barehanded," the
girl reminded him. you could have
the pistol"
He didn't even seem to hear her.
I've been thinking about it, It's a
long, long chance-much worse than
the chance we had of getting out by
have made il. If tie wolves had kept
off and the snowshOe hadn't broken.
1t would have nearly killed us, but
believe we could have got out. That's
why didn't try this other way first.
man with his bare hands hasn't
much of a chance against another with
rifle, and don't want you TO be too
hopeful And of course. the hardest
| problem is finding his camp
But ] do feel sure of one thing
that he is back TO his old trapping line
on the North Fork-somewhere south
of here-and his camp is somewhere
on the river. | think he would have
gone there so that he could cut off any
attempt ] might make to get through
with those letters. My plan is to start
back at an angle that will carry me
between the North Fork and our old
house. Somewhere I'm there I'll find
his tracks, the tracks he made when
he first came over TO burn up the
house. ! suppose he was careful to
mix 'em up after once he arrived
here. but the first part of the way he
likely walked straight toward the
house from his camp. Somewhere. IL
go that way. III cross his trail-with-
In 10 miles al least. Then I'll back.