Evening journal., 1922-12-29

a4Continued From Our Last Issue)
she sat dry-eyed, incohernt pray
ers at her trembling lips. Mostly
she did not touch the man, only
at hts bedside In the crude chaIi
Ben had fashioned for her.
x The hours dragged by. the night
sioped down to the forest: and the
dawn followed the night. Ben'e life
still hlcksred, like a fame in the
wind, in the twilight land between
life 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 vividly, NUT
+ tered, and fell Immediately 10 sleep.
IN the days tnat followed he was
conscious TO the degree that he
could drink broth. yet never realiz-
. ing Beatrice nor seeming to know
where was.
1t would be long weeks before
. Ben could hope for sufficient
strength 10 start the journey down
70 the settlements, even II the way
(. were open. AS It was, their only
chance lay in the fall rains that
would food the Yuga and enable
) them to journey down to the native
villages in their canoe.
Yet she still waged the fight,
Struggling with high courage and
treless resolution against the fright
lul 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 70 the mouth OF the
eave: and Famine itself stood close,
Mating in the shadows. She gazed
cut into the gathering gloom.
The forest was silent tonight. Not
a twig cracked or a branch rustled.
II was hushed. breathless, darkly I
sinister All at once her eyes peer I
ca and strained into the dusk.
Far across the valley. beyond the /
BEAVER marsh and on the farther /
shore OF the lake she saw little
snmmer Of light through the rift in 1
the trees. A gleam OF hope IN the I
iarkness Of despair.
she fastened into the cave, drew 1
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
lmpeiled by the excitement under
which she advanced, her old agility
of motion had for the moment re-
-urned 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;
5ut she took each step with consum-
mate care. gently thrusting the tree
branches from her path.
, One o. the three men looked up.
and she saw his face plainly through
ne low spruce bouEhs. Il was with
Z disunct foreboding OF disaster that
shs saw that the man was Ray
Brent.
: Al one side. quite 70 the edge Of
tbe freight. she saw q kyack-one {
81 -Scse square boxes that are hung
81 a pack saddle-which seemed 70 =
Be- hesped with 3erked caribou or ,
moose heeh. For the time OF a
breath she could not take her eyes {
rom Il.
. Chan and Nelson we're seemingly I {
ssieep. and now Ray was knocking ;
BE ashes from his pipe.
. He got Up, and removing his outer Z
>oat, rolled IN his blankets. The (
march across the face Of the wilder :
ness. Z
The Ere was a heap Of gray ashes
except for its red-hot center; the :
syack was in gloom. Very softly :
Beatrice crept through the thickets, J
& neanwhile encircling the lying FIRE.
ind came up behind s. ,
Now 4 was almost in reach: now
1er hands were az its loops. She A.,
rarted 70 lift Il IN her arms.
; But disaster Sill correc her trail !.
Cav Brent had been TOO wary o. al !
-ack. tonight, 70 sink e&sily into
deep slumber. He heard the soft
and with q startled oath :
sIlrang 10 mis- feet.
stir trying 70 hold ths syack .
aood lhat meant LIE 20 Ben. she !
lrred and darted irto the shadows
IN "a WI -a-I EArA nAAE alAIa L..
rne moonlight showing her fleeing I
gure in the treee. ara fhcutinE =
louf he sprane through the covers
9 1n.erceD- her fight z .burdeDed /,
y me heaT-' box she could not 2
satch her step. she was hurled
~l-n stunning force 70 fas ground
= Desperate and intent. but n
szllzstlon q tupen6ing trlanph. p
zsviz strong arms vent sbout lsr.
Nelson ane Cnan were OF Their .
- nov. and lneT REGARDED her p
- r--er Silence o. ar1aze-szt
< earrlzE fast zsy cane seh7-s 2
E-lt - ne Ere, CaanT hs sad 2
? g s--ares. E-lz vice. we want E
: ses WA we've csgg1t"
11oefls1rlT Czar k1cked .re rcais-
-g-r E1<sr the ashes. ard began 20
- 81 1rrEe- pieces . wood
SOW re 1rs's sigN rrspt OUT 70 {
-. reVsells her wlet. frightened Q
1es an1 re tsrk, speculative faces =
4 re naen- Then Ray spoke Eharp-
-Wsii rhy don't you question Z
Pr Re demanded q Nelson. Z
sDpo1e you know wha- she vas q
t-ug. she Wa frying % zeal FOOD. q
2 looks % ne Ike shea Eons orer ]
G the opposite camp e
sEze- father sighed Is that 90 ?
sughter7" ne asked simply.
~ was trying 70 take some % ?
our foof--to Ben" Beatrice replied ?
oftiy. Hes in need os f."
You ree -1-e-,f-e - s~sr-1-sa =