The daily Alaskan., 1922-04-15

to her "Dont give up. Snowbiru mine, think hen be Safe."
 They mounted to the top Of the ridge; and the long sweep or the for est was revealed 10 them. The house was a singular tall pillar Of flame, al- ready glowing that dreadful red from which tiremen, dcSpalrlnE, urn away. Then the girl seized his hands and danced about him in 8 mad circle.
 Hes alive" she cried You can see him-juSt a dot on the snow. He crawled our to safety"
 She turned and sped at a breakneck pace down the ridge, Dan had Co race to keep up with her. But it wasn't en- tlrely wise 10 try to mush so fast. A dead log lay beneath the snow with 8 broken limb stretched almost To Its surface, and 1t caught her snowshoe. TEe wood cracked sharply, and she fell forward in the snow. But she wasn't hurt. and the snowshoe Itself. In spite of a small crack In the wood, was still serviCeahle.
 Haste makes waste" he told her. Keep your feet on the ground, Snow bird; the house Is gone already and your father is safe. Remember what lies before us"
 The thought sobered and halted her. 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 clIl SD deep. S.nre 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 sword from ,he darkness, power that reacE,.> uut Of the mystery, aud carmor hp crassed with sights nf human origin. U burns out the eyes of all hur the strongest men. Yer Dam waS looking ar his fate now. and his eyes held straight
 They walked together down Co the ruined house. and The three of them sal silent while The fire burned red. Then LruuoN turned 10 them with a haIf-smHc.
 "Yuu'-r wasting time you two.7 he said. "Ermemher an our food is gone. If you start now. and walk hard, may he you ratu make ir ont"
 "TLrre are several things 10 do first" Dan answered simply.
 "I don't know what they are It Isn't ,olng 10 be any picnic Dan. A man can travel only So far without food 10 keep ur his strength particularly over such ridges aS you have Co cross. It win be easy ro give nn and die its The lest. man; iJ'> ghe fest.
 And wha, about you?' his dauCh- Ter asked
 "Oh. Tu be an right. Hesdrs-it'E the only ,niug rnag can be done [ cant walk. and you cant carry me on your backs. What else remains? m stay here-aud Tl scrape together enough wood 10 Keep a fire. Then you can bring help"
 He kept h.s eyes avertcd when he talked. He was afraid for Dan 10 see them, Knowing that he could read the lie .n them.
 How do you expect to find wood | in this Snow?" Dan asked him. "lt will take four days to get out; do you think you could lie here and baJue with a fire fo. four days. and then four days more lhat 'J will take to come back? You'd have TWO choices: to burn green wood that I'd Cuy for you before left. or the rain-soaEed dead wood under the snow. You couldn't ] keep either one of them burning and you'd die in a night BrsIdes-thiS Is no time for an uuarlned man to be alone in the hills"
 Leunu2'S voice grew pleading. "Be sensible. Dau" he cried. ''Ihat i Crunsrou's got us, and got us right 1 I've only one thing more l care about and that IS that you pay the debt l can't hope to ge, out myself ] say that cant even hope to. But if you bring my daughter through-and when spring comes. pay wha; we owe 10 . CranSrou-Tu be content. Heavens, son-Tve lived my life. The old pack 1 leader dies wheu his time comes, and so does a man."
 His daughter crept 10 him and shel- tered his gray head against her breast. "T1I 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. Its too long a way-it will be too hard a fight and childrcn-Tm old and tired out. don't want to make the try-hunEer and cold: and even if you'd stay here and grub wood. SnowbIrd, they'd find us both dead when they came back In week. We can't live without food, and work and keep warn-and there isn't living creature in the hills.'