The Pensacola journal., 1922-12-26

IcentInued From Our Last Issued
she sat dry-eyed incoherent
prayers at her trembling lips. Most
ly she did not touch the man, only
sat at his bedside in the crude chair
Zen had fashioned for her.
The hour dragged by the night
sloped down to the forest; and the
dawn followed the night Ben's life
still flIckered, like a flame in the
wind, in the twilight land between
life ana 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 vividly, NUT
tered, and fell Immediately to sleep.
In the days that followed he was
conscious to the degree that he
could drink broth, yet never realiz-
ing Beatrice nor seeming TO know
whore he was.
II would be long weeks before Ben
could hope for sufficient strength to
start the journey down to the settle
ments, even IL the way were open.
AS It was. their only chance lay in
the fall rains that would flood the
down to the native villages in thel
canoe.
Yet she stnl waged the fight.
Struggling with high courage and
tireless resolution against the fright
ful 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
IL was hushed, breathless, darkly
sinister. 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 rift in
the trees. A gleam Of hope in the
darkness of despair.
She hastened into the cave, drew
the blankets higher about Bens
shoulders, then crept out into the
dusk. Half running, she hastened
toward the distant camp fire.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Shot That Warned.
Tmpelled by the excitement under
which she advanced, her old agility
of motion had for the moment re-
turned TO her; and she crept softly
as fawn between the young trees.
One misstep, one rustling branch or
cracking twig might give her away;
but she took each step with consum-
mate 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. It was with
a distinct forebodlng Of disaster that
she saw that the man was Ray
Brent.
At one side, quite to the edge Of
the freight. she saw n kyack--one
OF those square boxes that are hung
on a pack saddle-which seemed to
be heaped with ierred caribou or
moose flesh. For the time of
breath she could not take her eyes
from *.
Chan and Nelson were seemingly
asleep, aud now Ray was knocking
the ashes from his pipe.
lie got up, and removing his outer
coat, rolled in his blankets. The
night hours began their mystic
march across the face of the wilder
ness.
The fire was heap Of gray ashes
except for its red-hot center: the
lSyack was in gloom. Very softly
Beatrice crept through the thickets,
cnclrclng the dying fire,
and came I'm bpbin1 n
Now il was almost In reach: now
her hands were at it's loops. She
started to lift It in her arms.
But disaster stil logged her trail,
Ray Brent had been too wary OF at
tack, tonight. to sink easily into
doep slumber. lie heard the soft
and with u startled oath
spranC 10 his feet.
Stin trying to hold the kyack Of
food that meant life TO Ben. She
turned and darted into the shadows.
Like a wolf Ray sped after her.
The moonlight showing her fleeing
figure in sthe trees, and shouting
aloud he sprang through the coverts
10 intercept her flight. Emburdened
by the heavy box she could not
watch her step. She was hurled
with stunning force TO the ground.
Desperate and intent. but in
realization 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.
fast, Ray came behind
her.
Build up the fire. Chan he said
n a strange, grim voice. we want
10 see what we've caught"
Obediently Chan kicked the Goals
rom under the ashes, and began to
heap on broken pieces of wood.
Slowly the fires glow crept out to
her, revealing her wide, frightened
eyes and the dark. speculative faces
II the men. Then Ray spoke sharp
":
"Well, why don't You question
ner?" he demanded of Nelson. Il
suppose you know what she was
doing. She was trying to steal food.
L looks to ME like she's gone over
10 the opposite camp"
Her father sighed. lis that so,
he asked simply.
81 was trying to take some Of
your food-to Ben." Beatrice replied
softly. "He's in need OF it,
you see, they're on intimate
.erms," Ray suggested Viciously.
Ben was in need OF food-so she
same here to steal It,"