The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-03-01
RV
BY
EDISON MARSHALL
Author Of
"The Voice of the Pack"
~
Copyright by Little, Brown, and Co.

IlSly nara 10 DetIeVe tIIaf the morse y
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 almlessly wan
dering in the storm.
OF all the sensations that the wilder
g can afford, there are few more
dreadful to 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 a. disadvantage; and like the
gods that first make mrd those whom
they would destroy, 1t 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 a 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 II back with all his powers of
will. His calmer, saner self explained
that folly with entire clearness. II
would mean panic for the horse, and
then a quick and certain death, either
Mt the foot of a precipice or from q
blow from a low-hanging limb. The
horse seemed to be feeling its 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 he brave
and look this matter in the face. Do
you think we've got u chancef'
lie rode a hong time before he an
swered. He CROPPED desperately for a
word that might bring her cheer, but
il was hard to find. The cold seemed
TO deepen about them. the remorseless
snow beat into his face.
Linda" he replied, "it Is one of
the mercies of this world for men al
ways TO think that they've got IA
chance. Maybe it's only "a cruelty in
u case"
II think / ought to tell you Some
thing else. l haven't the least way
of knowing whether We are on the
right trail"
Il knew that long ago. Whether
we. are on any trail at ALL"
"l've just been thinking. | don,
know how many forks il has. We
might have already got on a wrong
one. Perhaps the horse is turned
about and is heading back home-ts-
ward Simon's stables"
She spoke duly, and he thrust his
MN back to her. LINDA, try to be
brave he urged. 1--WE can only take
a chance"
The horse plodded a 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. | viii try to be brave, Bruce.
And IL 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 u CHEEKY word to
me-"
~ I'm not badly injured" he told
Finer gently. "And there are certain
things that have come clear TO me
lately. One Of them Is hat except
for you-throwing your own precious
body between-l 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 ~ind-blown snow.
Linda" he asked suddenly. Does
II seem to you to be awfully coldf'
4 She waited q long time before she
spoke. This was not the hour to
make quick On any decision
might rest their success or failure.
II believe Il can stand tia while
longer" she answered at last.
But | don't think we'd better try
to- It's getting cold. Every hour it,
colder. and | seem to be getting weak
er. II isn't a real wound, Linda-but
Il seems to have knocked ONE Of IN.
vitality out OF me. aud I'm DREADFUL,
In need OF rest. ] think Ned better
try 10 make a camp.
! +And 20 on by morning lightf"
eyes"
But Simon might oyertake u
them.
I'VE must stay IN OF sight Of TN
trail, But somehow can't help bu
hope he won't try TO follow ms ~
such a night as This"
He drew up the horse. and they sa
in the beat Of the snow. Don't max
any mistake about that. Bruce sh
toid him. .Remember. TINT unless b
! overtnkes us before we come into th
protection Of the courts. his Who'll
fight Is lnst. II doesn't ulone mea
) loss Of the esiate--fnr which he woul
, rtsk his life ,ast as he has q ,ioza
times. 1t r:-ans defent-a thing cha
/ 1wnlld come hard 10 Simnn. Beside
i he's got ii fire within him tiaat VI
keep him warm.
: .Yun mean--hafredT'
.Haired. Nothing else"
= eBut III spite If II we must mas