The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-27

But In the morning OF the fourth
day he opened his eyes wildly,
muttered, and fell Immediately 10
sleep.
In the days that followed he was
conscious 10 the degree that he
could drink broth, yet never rea.
liking 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 settlements even II the way
were open. AS Il was, their only
chance lay In the fall rains that
would flood the Yuga and enable
them to journey down to the ma
tive village 10 their canoe.
Yet she still waged the s:Sht
struggling with high courage and
tireless resolution against the
frlghtful odds that opposed her.
But now the real hour Of crisis
Twas 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 OF a branch
rustled. It was hushed. breathless
darkly sinister. All at once her
eyes peered and strained into the
dusk.
Fa racross the valley, beyond
the HEAVIER marsh and on the far
Their shore OF the lake she saw a
little glimmer Of light through the
rift in the trees. A CLEAN OF hope
in the darkness OF despair.
She hastened into the cave, drew
the blankets higher about Ben's
shoulders, then crept out into the
dusk. Halt running, she fastened
toward the distant camp fire.
CHAPTER XVI
The Shot That Warmed
Impelled by the excitement un.
der which she advanced. her old
gility Of motion had for the mo-
ment returned to her: and she
crept softly as a fawn between the
young trees. One misstep. one
rustling branch or cracking twig
might give her away, but she tooE
each step with consummate care,
gently thrusting the trec brenches
from her path.
One OF the three men looked u.
and she saw his face plainly
through the low spruce houghs, II
was with distinct forebodlng OF
/ disaster that she saw that the mar
was Ray Brent.
At one side, quite to the edge o.
the freight, she saw a kyack-
one Of those square boxes that arr
hung on a pack saddle-which
seemed to be heaped with jerked
caribou or moose flesh. For the
time OF a breath she could no!
take her eyes from, It.
Chan and Nelson we're seeming
ly asleep, and now Ray was knock
ing the ashes from his pipe.
He got up and removing his
outer coat, rolled In his blankets
The night hours beg.a their mys
tic march across the face Of the
wilderness.
The fire was heap OF gray
ashes except for its red.hot cen
ter; the kyack was in gloom. VERY
softly Beatrice crept through the
thickets. meanwhile encircling the
dying fire, and came UP behind It
Now 1t was almost in reach
now her hands were at IS loops
She started to lift it In her arms
But disaster still dogged her
trail. Ray Brent had been toe
wary of attack tonight, to sinH
easily into deep slumber. He hear
the soft movement and with q
startled oath sprang to his feet
/ Still trying to hold the kyack
OF food that meant life to Ben, SHE
turned and darted into the shad
lows.
Like a wolf Ray sped after her
The moonlight showing her flee
ing figure in the trees and shout
ing aloud he sprang through the
coverts to intercept her flight.
Tr,,, hurfJanad ht, fha boovt, hnr she