Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-09-29
CHAPTER viIl-continued.

3
He examined the mud about the
spring and there was plenty OF evi.
dence that the forest creatures had
passed that way. Here was a little
triangle where buck had stepped.
and further away he found two pairs
Of deer trncks-evidentiy those OF a
doe with fawn. wolf had stopped
10 cool his heated tongue in the wa
terS. possibly In the middle OF some
terrible hunt In the twilight hours
Then he found huge abrasion in
the mud that puzzled him still more
Al the first he couldn't believe that
u was track. The reason was sim
ply that the size OF the thing was in
crefihle-ss II some one had laid
Hour sack In the mud and taken II up
again. He did not think Of any of
The modern-day forest creatures as
being Of such proportions II was
very stale and had been almost obIit-
Grated by many days of sun. Perhaps
he had been mistaken in thinking IL
mn Imprint OF a living creature. He
went to his knees 10 examine It,
But in one instant he knew that he
tad not been mistaken. II was a
track not greatly different from that
OF an enormous human foot; and the
separate toes were entirely distinct.
" was a bear track. OF course. but
one Of such size that the general run
OF little black bears that inhabited
the hills could almost use II for a den
of Attenuation,
He got up and went on--farther
toward Trails End He walked more
swiftly now. for he hoped to reach
the end OF Pine Needle Trail before
nlghtfail. but he had no intention of
haliing in case night came upon him
before he reached It. He had waited
too long already TO find Linda.
Another hour ended the days sun
Hight. The shadows fell quickly, but
II was long time yet until darkness.
He yet might make the trail-end. He
gave no thought 10 fatigue. In the
first place. he had stood up remark
ably wen under the days tramp for
no other reason than that he had al |
ways made point of keeping In the |
best OF physical condition. Resides.
there was something more potent than |
mere physical strength 10 sustain
him now II was the realization OF |
the nearing end OF the trail-a knowl |
edge OF tremendous revelations that
would come to him In few hours |
more
Already great truths were taking
shape In his brain: he only needed
single sentence OF explanation TO con
meet them all together. He began
20 feel growing excitement and i'm
patience.
II was quite dark now. and he
could barely see tile trail For the
mrs, time he began 10 despair, feeling
that another night OF overpowering
impotence must be spent before hs
could reach Traits End The stars
began ~ push through the darkenlng
sky. Thu. fainter than the CLEAN Of
= freely. he saw the faint light OF
far distant camp Gre.
Ills heart bounded. lie knew what
was there II vas the end OF the
trail al last And II guided him the
res, Of the way When he reached
the top of q little rise In the trail the
whole scene was laid out IN mystery
below him.
The IRE had been built At the door
of mouninin house log structure
~ perhaps four rooms The frellght
played Ia ~ open doorway. Some.
hing bcs.idf d caught his attention. {
md inptinciisely he followed d with /
fis e}es until u ended la an incred. I
DIE region or ihe stars II was
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sfef seen ee'wlaEis great senfipsl q
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