Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-10-26
CHAPTER v'i'-continued.


-
He examined the mud about the
spring. and there was plenty Of evil
dence that the forest creatures had
passed that way. Here was little
triangle where buck had stepped.
and further away he found two pairs
Of deer tracks-evidently those of n
doe with fawn. A wolf had stopped
to cool his heated tongue in the wa
tiers. possibly in the middle Of some
terrible hunt In the twilight hours.
Then he found q huge abrasion in
the mud that puzzled him still more.
At the first he couldn't believe that
1t was track. The reason was SIM
ply that the size Of the thing was in
credible-ns II some one had laid a
-four sack in the mud and taken 1t up
again. He did rot think of any of
the modern-day forest creatures as
being of such proportions. II WAS
very stale and had been almost oblit-
Grated by many days Of sun. Perhaps
he Rad been mistaken In thinking II
an imprint OF living creature. He
went to his knees to examine II.
But In one instant he knew that he
had not been mistaken. 1t was n
track not greatly different from that
of an enormous human foot; and the
separate toes were entirely distinct.
1t was a bear track. Of course. but
one Of such size that the general run
Of little black bears that Inhabited
the hills could almost use II for den
of Information!
He got up and went on-farther
toward Trails End. He walked more
swiftly now, for he hoped to reach
the end of Pine-Needle Trail before
nightfall. but he had no intention of
halting In case night came upon him
before he reached 1t. He had waited
too long already to find Linda.
Another hour ended the days sun
light. The shadows fell quickly, but
It was long time yet until darkness.
He yet might make the trail-end. He
gave no thought to fatigue. In the
first place he had stood up remark
ably well under the days tramp for
no other reason THAI that he had al
ways made point VI keeping in the
best of physical condition. Besides,
there WIS something more potent than
mere physical strength to sustain
him now. 1t was liberalization of
the nearing end Of the trall-a knowl-
edge Of tremendous revelations that
would come to him in few hours
more.
Already great truths were taking
shape In his brain; he only needed a,
single sentence Of explanation to con-
meet them all together. He began
to feel growing excitement and I'm
patience.
1t was quite dark now. and he
could barely see the trail. For the
FIRST time he began to despair, feeling
that another night of overpowering
impatience must be spent e.efOre he
could reach Trails End. The stars
began to push through rhe darkening
sky. Then. fainter than the CLEAN of
Q firefy. he saw the faint light Of a
far distant camp fire
His heart bounded. He knew what
was there. 1t was the end Of the
trail at last. And 1t guided him the
rest Of the way. When he reached
the top Of little rise In the trail. the
whole scene was laid out In mystery
below him.
The fire had been built at the door
Of mountain house-a log structure
of perhaps four rooms. The freight
played in Its open doorway. Some
thing beside 1t caught his attention,
and instinctively he followed II with
his eyes until 1t ended In an hcred-
ible region Of the stars. Il was a
great pine tree. the largsSt he had
ever seen-seemingly a Fteat sentinel
over all the land.
But the sudden awe that came over
him at the sight of 1t was cut short
by the sight Of girls figure in the
firellght. He had an instant's sense
that lie had come to the wilderness
heart at last that this tall tree was
its symbol. that II he could under
stand the eternal watch that 1t kept |
over this mountain world. he would |
hive an understanding Of all things
bur all these thoughts were submerged
In the realization that he had come
back to Linda at last.
He had known how the mountains
would seem. All that he had behefd |
today was Just the recurrence of |
things beheld long ago. Nothing had
seemed different from what he had
ekpected: rather he had sense that |
. lost world had been returned to him.
md It was almose as'if he had never
peen away. BIT ~ S1sa IN the nrs-
= H y