South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-26
CONTINUED From our last Issue

NIOnunued Prom our last Issue
She SAT dry-eyed. !ncoherent pray
ers at her tremo,ing lips Mostly
she did not touch the man. only
sat at his bedside in the crude chair
Ben had fashioned for her
The hours dragged BY. the night
sloped down TO the forest; and the
dawn followed the night. Ben's life
still fickered. like fame in the
wind. in the twilight land between
lie and death.
Yet little could she do for him
these first few days. except in her
simple faith, TO pray.
But in the morning OF the fourth
day he opened his eyes wildly, NUT
TERED and fell Immediately 10
sleep.
In the days that followed he was
conscious to the degree that he
could drink broth, yet never real.z-
ing Beatrice nor seeming TO know
where he was.
1t would be long weeks before
Ben could hope for sufficient strength
TO start the journey down to the
settlement, even if the way were
open. As it was. their only chance
lay in the fall rains that would
flood the Yuga and enable them to
journey down 10 the native vii
lagos in their canoe.
Yet she st.n vased the Eight,
struggling with high courage and
tireless resolution against the fright
full odds that opposed her.
But now the real hour OF crisis
was at hand-not from his illness
but from the depletion Of their food
supplies.
She walked to the mouth of the
cave: and Famine itself stood close
waiting in the shadows. She gazed
out into the gathering gloom.
The forest was silent tonight. Not
twig cracked or a branch rus;leo.
Il was hushed breathles, darkly
sinisted All at once her eyes
peered and strained into the dusk.
Far across the valley, beyond the
beaver marsh and on the farther
shore Of the lake she saw a little
glimmer of light through the rirt
in the trees ! gleam Of hope IN
the darkness Of despair.
She FASTENED into the cave. drew
the blankets higher about Ben's
shoulders. then crept out into the
dusk. Half running. she fastened
toward the distant camp fire.
CHAPTER XVI
The Shot That Warned
Impelled by the excitement un-
der which she advanced, her old
agility OF motion had for the mo-
ment returned TO her; and she crept
softly as a fawn between the young
trees. One miSstep, one rusthng
branch or cracking twig n SHIT give
her away; but she took each step
with consummate care. gently
thrusting the tree branches from
her path.
One Of the three men looked up,
and she saw his face plainly through
the low spruce boughs. Ii was with
distinct foraboding of disaster that
she saw that the man was Ray
Brent.
At one side. quite 10 the edge of
the freight. she saw a kyack-one
OF those square boxes that are hung
on a pack saddle-which seemed 10
be heaped with jerked caribou or
moose flesh. For the time Of a
breath she could not take her eyes
from il.
Chan and Nelson were seemingly
| asleep. and now Ray was knocking
the ashes from his pipe.
He got up. and removing his outer
coat. rolled in his blankets The
night hours began their mystic
march across the face of the wild
erness.
The fire was a heap Of gray
ashes except for It's red-hot center:
the kyack was in gloom. Very soft
" Beatrice crept through the
thickets meanwhile enc.rcling the
dying fire. and came up behind il.
Now il was almost in reach: now
her hands were at its loops. She
started to lift it in her arms.
But disaster still logged her trail.
Ray Brent had been 10 wary Of at
tack, tonight. to sink easily into
deep slumber. He heard the soft
movement and with a startled oath
sprang TO his feet,
Still trying TO hold the kyacll Of
food that meant lie 10 Zen, she
turned and darted into the shadows.
Like a wolf Ray sped after her.
The moonlight showing he- fleeing
figure in the trees, and shouting
aloud he sprang through the COW
erts TO intercept her fight. Embur-
dened by the heavy box she could
not watch her step. She was hurled
with stunning force to the ground.
Desperate and intent, but in re-
alizatiou Of impending triumph.
Rays strong arms went about her.
Nelson and Chan were on their
feet now. and they regarded her
in the utter silence of amaZement.
Breathing fast. Ray came behind
her
Build up the fire Chan ne. said
in a strange, grim voice. We want
TO see what we've caught
Obed.ently Chan kicked the Goals
from under the ashes. and began 10
heap on broken pieces Of wood.
Slowly the fires glow crept out 10