New Britain herald., 1922-12-27


 his bedside In the crude chair Be had fashioned for her.
 The hours dragged by. the nigh sloped down to the forest; and tn dawn followed the night. Ben's If sttll flickered, like a flame in tn wind, in the twilight land betwee life and death.
 Yet little could she do for hin these first few days, except. in he simple faith, to pray.
 But in the morning of the fourtl day he opened his eyes wildly, nut tered. and fell immediately to sleep.
 In the days that followed he wa conscious to the degree that he coul, drink broth. yet never realizing Bea trice nor seming to know where h, was.
 It would be long weeks before Bel could hope for sufficient strength t, start the journey down to the settle ments, even if the way were open As 1t was, their only chance lay il the fall rains that would flood tn, Yuga and enable them to journe! down to the native village in theil canoe.
 Yet she still waged the fight, strug eling with high courage and tireles' resolution against the frightful odd. that opposed her.
 But now the real hour of crisis wa. it hand-not from his illness, bu from the depletion of their food sup plies.
 She walked to the mouth of the cave; and famine itself stood close waiting in the shadows. She gazet { out into the gathering gloom.
 The forest was silent tonight Not a twig cracked or branch rustled It was hushed. breathless. darkly sinister. All at once her eyes peerd and strained into the dusk.
 Far across the valley, beyond the beaver marsh and on the farther shore of the lake she saw little glim- mer of light through the rift in the trees. A gleaem of hope in the dark ness of despair.
 She hastened into the cave, drew the blankets higher about Ben's shoulders, then crept out into the dusk Half running, she hastened toward the distant camp fire.
 CHAPTER XVI.
 The Shot That Warned
 Impelled by the excitement under which she advanced, her old agility of motion had for the moment returned to her: and she crept softly as a fawn betwen the young trees. One misstep, one rustling branch or cracking twig might 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. It was with a distinct foreboding of disaster that she saw that the man was Ray Brent.
 At one side, quite to the edge of the freight. she saw a kyack--one of those square boxes that are hung on a pack saddle-which seemed to be heaped with jerked caribou or moose flesh. For the time of a breath she could not take her eyes from it. e 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 wilderness
 The fire was a heap of gray ashes except for it's red-hot center: the kyack was in gloom. Very softly Beatrice crept through the thickets, encircling the dying fire, and came up behind it.
 Now 1t was almost in reach: now her hands were at its loops. She started to lift it in her arms.
 But disaster still dogged her trail. Ray Brent had been too wary of at tack, tonight. to sink easily into deep s,umber. He heard the soft move ment and with startled oath sprang to his feet.
 Still trying to hold the kyack of food that meant life to Ben, sne turned and darted into the shadows.
 Like wolf Ray sped after her. The moonlight showing her fleeing figure in the trees. and shouting aloud ne sprang through the coverts to in- tercept her flight Emburdened by the heavy box she could not watch her step. She was hurled with stun ming force to the ground.
 Desperate and intent, but in realiza- tion of impending triumph, Rays strong arms went about her.
 Nelson and Chan were on their feet now, and they regarded her Tn the utter silence of amazement. fast, Ray came behind her.
 "Build up the fire, Chan" he said In strange, grim voice. We want to see what we've caught"
 Obediently Chan kicked the coals from under the ashes. ant 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 of the men. Then Ray spoke sharp ly:
 well. why don't you question herr" he demanded of Nelson. T suppose you know what she was do- ng. She was trying to steal food. It looks to me like she's gone over to he opposite camp"
 Her father sighed. "Is that so, he asked simply.
 T was trying to take some of your ood-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--she came lere to steal it."
 But Nelson acted as if he had not ,eard. "Why didn't you speak to us md tell us you were safe 2" he asked. We've come all the way here to find 'ou."