Evening journal., 1922-12-30
CONTINUED From Our Last Issue,


should srs as he heard the incredible
answer from the shore Of the lake
'T'm coming, Beatrice" some one
said in the coverts. Her cries. ut
tered when her father fell, had not
gone unheard,
Ben walked quietly into the cir
Gle OF frelight and stood at Bea-
trices side, But while Ray and
chan gazed at him as il he We're
spectre from the grave. Beatrice's
only impulse was one OF immeas-
ureable and unspeakable thankful
ness.
The man was exhausted-he elpless
in their hands. All Rays aims had
been attained. with Ben's death the
claim. a fourth OF with had been
his motive when he had slain Ez-
ram. would pass entirely 10 him
except for such share as he would
have to give Chan.
Nelson lay seriously wounded,
perhaps dead by now. Whatever
his injuries. he would not so back
with them 10 share IN the gold Of
the. claim. The girl also, was his
prey-to do with what he liked.
Ben's face hardened. There is
nothing I can do. now. You came
TOO. late. But I would have had
something TO do IL I had my rife"
"Oh. YOU depraved dogs" he told
them quietly and distinctly. You
yellow. mongrsl cowardsi"
Ray Strengthened, stung by the
words. And I'll make you wish
you was dead before you ever said
that" he threatened. "Chan-put
rope around his legs and gag
in his rotten mouth"
They moved toward him stimuli
taneously. and Ben summoned the
last jot of his almost-spent strength
TO hurl them off. They did not need
deadly weapons for this wasted
form. Yet for the duration OF one
second Ben fought with an incred-
ible ferocity and valor.
But such an unequal battle could
last only an instant. Ray focused
his attack upon Ben's injured left
arm. Chan struck once at the girl.
hurting her to the ground with
base blow. then lashed brutal blows
into Bens face. The hurst Of /
strength ebbed as quickly as II had I
COME his legs wllted under him, 1
and,he sank slowly to the ground
Fbr few minutes they took little
notice Of the prone figures at the /
far edge OF the fading freight. At /
tsntion could be given them soon
enough. Their own triumph was
beginning TO give way TO deep IA
tigue.
Ben and Beatrice had talked soft
" AZ first accepting their fate at \
lasta and trying to forget all things
but.the fact OF each others pres
ence. His right hand held Sers
close 10 HIS lips. and only she could
understand the message In Its soft
pressure. But presently her gaze
fastened on some object in the grass
beside him
Y see away out-for US both"
xheitold him. She knew he would
Not i,niisunderstand and dream that
she saw an actual avenue TO life and
eefetv Don't give any sign
Then hurry" he urged. They
may be back any instant What is
it7"
"A way to cheat 'em-to keep
them from torturing you-and TO
save me-from all the things they'll
do 70 me-when you're dead. oh,
Benr-you won't fall me-you'l do II
for me"
He smiled. gently and strongly.
"Doiyou think I'd fail you now7"
Then reach your good arm on the
other side. There's a knife lying
therf-your own knife-they
knocked out Of my hand. You know
what to do-irst me. In the throat
then yourself"
f{e turned, cropping with his hand.
There was no use of waiting longer,
Ths,knife lay Just beyond his reach
sndir softly he moved his body
thrfugh the grass.
But this gate to mercy was closed
before they reached Il. A sudden
hariDg OF the fire revealed them
the ,n,gleam OF the blade and Ben's
stretching hand--and. Ray left his
log IN a swift, catlike leap. ID
With sharp oath Ray crushed
the ,,,,blade into the ground with his
heel then kicked viciously at the
prone body OF his enemy.
His eve fell on long. heavy club
Of spruce that had been cut for fuel.
He bent and his strong hands seized
It, o.
As ,he swung it high the girl
leaped between--with a last, frantic
effott. wholly instinctive-to shield
BeD'e body with her own. Chan had
follnwed Ben. and sharing Rays ,
iendish mood. jerked her aside.
YET il was TO be that Rays MUIR
derous blow was never TO go home
a mighty and terrible ally had come
TO Ben's aid. He came pouncing from
the .darkness. a garDt and dreadful
aveRger whose code. OF death was as
as Rays own.
Itiwas Fenris the wolf and he had
found his master at last. Missing him
at the accustomed place in the cave.
he had trailed him to the lake mar
sf47;n a smell on the wind had led
hint the rest OF the way. Like
ghogt he had glided almost TO thu
edge Of the freight, lingering there
-uHtil he had made up his brute
mind in regard 10 the strangers IN
lhe camp. But he had waited only
untA he saw Ray kick the helpless
form before him-that OF tho gcd
that Fenris. for all the void lad
him. still worshipped in his
inmost heart. With fiendish, mania
cal fury he had sprung to avenge
the blow.
Ard mis- three followers, trained
by the pack laws to follow where ne
led, and keyed to the highest like
gray demons Of the Pit in his wake.
AZ a young tree breaks and goes