The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-18

wastes.
The crust on the snow was steadily
strengthening; mostly the days wer'
clear and excessively cold. The
( journey could be undertaken soon
only a few more days OF tho advcn
ture remained.
Their excursions AZ first were q
matter OF pleasure only. bat by ons
unexpected stroke from tho sinister
powers % tho Wild they were sud
denly made necessary. Her first
knowledge OF the blow came wher
Riil entered her cabin 20 build IN,
morning fire.
she had not yet risen. II had al
ways been her practice TO wait I'll
the room was snug and warm before
she dressed. She was asleep when
steps. she was aware of the flectinR
memory Of unhappy dreams. shs
couldn't have told just what they
were. II seemed 20 her that some
unseen danger had been menacins
her security-.that evil and danger,
Gus forces were consplrlng and max
ing war against her. Hidden foes
were In ambush. ready 10 pounee
forth.
The danger seemed different and
beyond that which she had faced
every day: snow and cold and this
other inanlfnatc forces OF the wild.
And SHE was vastly relieved 20 hear
Bills volc. calling her from sleep.
Hut the next instant her fears re
turned--not the CHASTITY fear Of evil
dreams but of actual and real dts.
astsr. II wasn't Blirs usual custom
20 wsken her. lie wanted her 90
spend a. many as possible Of the
nionotonous hours 10 sleep There
was a subdued quality In his voice.
too. that once or twice she had heard
before. she drew aside the curtain.
far enough to Arc his face. There
was no paleness. however. nor no
hear. fer all that hls eyes were sober.
You'd better get up as soon AZ
you can. Virginia." he said. We've
got TO take a real hunt today
"Huntf After fneaif''
Eyes. Were face 20 face with a
new problem. The pack cam. by
last nlght--the wolf pack As usual.
whom men are near. they didn't make
a sound didn't hear them al all.
And they got away with III. big
moose ham. hanging on the spruce
stripped the bone clean"
Then we're out Of mcaty-'
AN except the little piece outside
the door. We've been going thru II
pretty fast"
Hili spoke true. Their meat con.
sumption had practically doubled
since Harold had come. For all his
Lack OF physical exercise. the latter
was an unusually heavy eater.
But wc won't be able to find any
now. the moose are gone"
Were not very likely to. that's
certain. but II won't be a tragedy II
we don't IL would only be an annoy.
anea. It's true that we've got to
have NOR. supplies 10 start down
I don't believe We could make II thru
with what wa have. considering the
loss OF this ham--but n It's neces-
sary I can rnush 6ver to my Twenty
three Mile cabin and get the supplies
left over there. Harold tells me
he hasn't a thing In his Old place.
However. can do IL. IL we don't hap
pen 10 pick up some meat today"
I'VE might track down the wolves.
and get one OF Those
-wolf meat hasn't a flavor you'd
care for. I'm afraid. The Indians
have been known to eat Il. but they
can put away beaver and tough old
grizzly bear. Those things are starva-
ton meats only. But IL you care 20.
We can dash out and see II we can
pick up young csribop or left.
over moose. It's pleasant out today.
anyway. It's rather warm---i believe
there's going to BE- change Of
weather"
Good or BAD the girl asked.
Haven't had any government buI.
ietins on that point. this morning
Probably bad. The weather IN the
North. Virginia. gUes along tbs way
II 10 a while. and then IL gets worse. :"
She dressed. and at breakfast their
emulation over their trip grew pain.
ful 10 Harold's ears lie announced
his intention % going along.
curioualy. even Virginia did not
receive this announcement with par.
ticulsr enthusiasm II was not that
her regard for Blu was any kin to
thai she held for Harold. Rather
II was fear that Harold'a presence
might blunt the edge OF the fine com.
panionship she enjoyed with the
woodsman. II would throw a per.
sonal element Into an otherwise care.
free and adventurous day. But she
smiled at him. rather fOrdly.
Just as you Ike. Harold"
They put on their snowshoes. their
wsrmest wraps. and started gayiy
forth. Bin took rather a new course
today He bent his steps toward n
stream that he called Creek Despair
NAMED for the fact that he had
once held high hopes OF finding his
lost mine along its waters. only to
meet an utter and hopeless failure.
From the map he had judged that
the lost claim lay somewhere along
it's course. but he had washed u from
ita mother springs clear TO its mouth.
finding scarcely the faIntost traces
In the pan. Because he had made
such a tireless search IN this par.
ticular section In previous years he
had completely avoided Il in the pres.
ent adventure. Even on his pleasure
trips with Virginia he had never for.
gotten his search. thus he had led
her into more favorable regions
where he might reasonably keep his
eyes open for clews. Now that nc
had given up finding the ciaim--for
this season. at least. and perhaps
forever--one way was as good as
another And he remembered that
an old caribou trail lay just beyond
the stream on the steep hillside.
BIZ led the way. mushing quietly
and swiftly. and Virginia sped after
him. The cold had brought O high
color 10 her cheeks and "A lustor 10
her eyes, her nerves and muscles