The daily Alaskan., 1922-04-04

Hnalnlpd, In all its phaEeS it is rear She was afraid of him, them and that meant he need no longer be in the least afraid of her. His skin began to twItCh all over with that ierrIhie mad. ness and passion of the iesh-hunters.
 This game was like the deer. and the thing to do was lie In wait. There was only one trail. He wasn't afraid of losing her In the darkness. She was neither fleet like the deer nor courageous like Woof the bear. He had only to wait and leap from the darkness when she passed.
 
 When Dan Failing. riding like mad over the mountain trail, heard the third shot from Snowblrd's pistol, he felt that one of the debts he owed had come due at last. He seemed 10 know, as the darkness pressed around him. that he was to be tried tn the lre. And the horse staggered beneath him as he tried to hasten.
 He showed no mercy to his mount. Horse-hesh isn't made for carrying. a heavy man over such a trall as this, and she was red-nostrtled and Iath- cred before half a mile had been cov- cred. He made her leap up the rocks, and on fairly level stretches he loOsed the reins and lashed her into gallop. Only mountain horse could have stood that test. He gave no thought to his own safety. His courage was al the test, and no risk of hls own life must Interfere with his attempt to save SnowbIrd from the danger that threatened her. He didn't know when the horse would fall with him and precipitate him down precipice, and he was perfectly aware that to crash into lOw-hRnging limb of one of the great trees beside the trail would probably crush his skull. But he took the chance. And before The ride was done he found himself plead. ing with the horse. even as he dashed her sides with his whip.
 The lesser forest creatures spreng from his trail; and once the mare Ienped high to miss a dark shadow that crossed in front. As she caught her stride Dan heard a squeal and rattle of quIlls that identified the crea ture as a porcupine.
 Ry now he hnd passed the first Of the worst grades. coming out upon a long. easy slope Of open forest. Again he urged his horse. leaving 10 her keen senses alone the choosing of the path between the great tree trunks.
 Then he heard Snowbird fire for the fourth time; and he knew that he had almost overtaken her. The report seemed to smash the air. And he lashed his horse Into the fastest run she knew-a wild, sobbing figure In the darkness.
 She's only got one shot more" he said He knew how many bullets her pistol carried; and the danger-what. ever lt was-muSt be just al hand. Un- derbrush cracked beneath him. And then the horse drew up with a jerk that almost hurled him from the sad de,
 He lashed al her In vain. She was not afraid In the darkness and the rocks of the trail hut some Terror In the woods in front had In an Instant broken his control over her. She reared. snortIng; then danced In an Impotent circle. Meanwhile. precious sec0nds were fleeing.
 He understood now. The horse stood still. shlvering beneath him, but would not advance a step. The silence dpepenpd. Somewhere Ir the dark ness before him great cougar was waiting by the trail, and Snowbird, hoping for the moment that if had given up the chase, was hastening through the shadows squarely Into Its ambush
 Continued on Thursday)