The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-04-07
CHAPTER II-Continued.


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
Of tenderness that swept over her
with no cause except the look in Dams
earnest gray eyes and the lines that
ent SO deep. Since the world was new,
It 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 q sword from the darkness, a
power that reaches out of the mystery,
and cannot be classed with sights Of
human origin. It burns out the eyes
of 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.
Then Lennox turned to them with a
haIf-snile.
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
uTSL, DdQ answered. Simply.
81 don't know what they are. 1t isn't
going to be any picnic, Dan. A man
can travel only so far without food to
keep up his str ength, 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 you?" his daugh-
ter asked.
ooh, I'll be all right. Besides-it's
the only thing that can be done. 1
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 fire. Then you
cHM bring help"
He kept his eyes averted when he
talked. He was afraid for Dan to see
them, knowing that he could read the
ne- in them.
How do you expect to find wood
in this snow?" Dan asked him. ''It will
take four days to get out; do you
TFiink you could lie here and battle
with 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 left, or the rain-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
Lennoxs voice grew pleading. "Be
sensible, Dan!" 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! l
can't hope to get out myHelf. say
that can't even hope to. But if you
Bring my daughter througb-and when
spring comes, pay what we owe to
Cranston-rll be content, Heavens,
son-I've lived my life. The old pack
leader dies wheu his timo comes, and
80 does man."
His daughter crept to him and shell
tered his gray head against her
breast. ''I'll stay with you, then" she
cried.
"Don't be a little fool, Snowbird,"
he urged. my clothes are wet al
ready from the melted snow It's too
long a way-it will be too hard fight,
and children-Tm old and tired out.
and cold; and even if you'd stay here
and grub wood, SDowbird, 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
him.
Except the wolves Lennox.
echoed. Remember, we're unarmed-
and they'd find It out. You're young,
Snowbird, and 81 is Dan-and you
two will be happy. I know how things
are, you twO--more than you know
yourSelves-and in the end you'll be
happy But me-Im too tired to
make the try. I don't care about it
enough. Pm going to wave you good
by, and smile, and lie here and let the
cold come down. You feel warm in a
little WHILE"
But she stopped his lips with Ter
hand. And he bent and kissed it.
IF anybOdy'S going to stay with
'yOu," Dan told them in a clear, firm
voice, otis going to he 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 SnowbiEd. think Haven't any
supplies been left in the ranger sta
tion?"
''Not one taing,' the girl told him.
You know Cranston and his crowd
robbed the place last winter And the
telephone lines were disconnected
when the rangers left"
Then the only way is Cor me to