Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-12-01
By
BY
EDISON MARSHALL
Author of
THE Voice of the Pack"
Copyright BY Little, Brown, and Co.

| S"A''ucu lhein now seemed simply I'M
1athomable. Bruce found II Increas-
lngly hard to believe that the horses
eyes could make out any kind of dim
pathway In the pine needles The feel
Ing grew on him and on Linda as well,
that they were lost and aimlessly wan
dering ia the storm.
| VI all the sensations that the wilder
ness can afford. there are few more
dreadful 70 the spirit than this. II Is
never pleasant to lose ones bearings
and in the night and the cold and
miles from any friendly habitation II
is particularly hard to bear. Bruce
felt the age-old menace Of the wilder
| ness as never before. 1t always seemed
to be crouching, waiting to take a
man at disadvantage; and ike the
gods that first make mad those whom
they would destroy, it doesn't quite
play fair. He understood now certain
wilderness tragedies of which he had
heard; how tenderfeet-lost among
the ridges-had broken into wild
run that had ended nowhere except
IN exhaustion and death.
Bruce himself felt a wild desire to
lash his horse into a gallop, but he
forced 1t back with all his powers Of
Will. His calmer, saner self explained
that folly with entire clearness. It
would mean panic for the horse, and
then a quick and certain death, either
at the foot OF q precipice or from a
blow from a low-hanging limb. The
horse seemed to be feeling It's way,
rather than seeing
They were strange, lonely figures
in the darkness; and for a long time
they rode almost In silence. Then
Bruce felt the girls breath as she
whispered.
Bruce she said. Lets be brave
and look this matter In the face Do
you think we've got a chanceT
He rode long time before he an
swered- He CROPPED desperately for a
word that might bring her cheer, but
It was hard to find. The cold seemed
to deepen about them. the remorseless
snow beat into his face.
Linda" he replied, st is one Of
the mercies Of this world for men al
ways to think that they've got a
chance. Maybe it's only a cruelty in
our case"
II think 1 ought to tell you some
thing else. / haven't the least way
Of knowing whether We are on the
right TRAIL
81 knew that long ago. Whether
we are on any trail at all"
I've just been thinking. I don't
know how many forks it has. We
might have already got on wrong
one. Perhaps the horse Is turned
about and is heading back home-to-
ward Simon's stables"
She spoke duly. and he thrust his
arm back to her. LINDA, try TO be
brave" he urged. I'VE can only take
4 chance"
The horse plodded few more
steps. Brave, To think that 1t is
you that has to encourage me-in-
stead Of my trying to keep up your
spirits. I will try to be brave, Bruce
And II we don't live through the
night. my last remembrance will be
of your bravery-how you. injured
and weak from loss Of blood, still re-
membered to give q CHEEKY word TO
me-"
I'm not badly injured" he told
her gently. And there are certain
things that have come clear to me
lately. One Of them Is that except
for you-throwing your own precious
body between wouldn't be here at
ALL"
The feeling that they had lost the
trail grew upon them. once they
halted to adjust the blankets on the
saddle, and they listened for any
sounds that might indicate that Simon
was overtaking them. But all they
heard was the soft rustic of the leaves
under the wind-blown snow.
Linda" he asked suddenly. docs
II seem to you to be awfully coldf
She waited a long time before sne
spoke. This was not the hour 10
make quick answers. On any decision
might TEST llclI c1NNt'7 ~
II believe / can stand ia WINE
longer" she answered At last.
aBut | don't think we'd better Try
10. It's getting cold Every hour IL
colder. and seem TO be getting weak
.r II isn't a real wound, Linda-ouf
II seems 10 have knocked some Of nay
vitality out OF me. and I'm dreadfui}
IN need OF rest. ! think we'd Detlef
try 10 make camp"
~And go on By morning hshtr
Yes"
-But Simon might oyertaks as
then"
ave must stay out " sight OF me
trail But somehsv--i cant help os'
None he won't fry % follow us %
such A night a. ihis.'
tie drew 10 the horse sna 1lsy 81,
ia ne bes, o. the snow ,popt 'ns 's
an, mistake shout thst Bruce sis
I'D hlm. sRemsmhsf tAef unless ~
oyertskes " hsfore es eoips lniy 'ss
nrstsclion ~ ths colris PIE N'''s