The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-02-09
BY
EDISON MARSHALL
Author of
"The Voice of the Pack"
Copyright by Little, Brown. and Co.

eyes cOulu make out any KIND or 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 in the storm.
OF all the sensations that the wilder
ness can afford, there are few more
dreadful to the spirit than this. II Is
never pleasant to lose ones be0rings----
and In the night and the cold and
miles from any friendly habitation 1t
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 like the
gods that first make mad those whom
they would destroy, X doesn't quite
play fair. He understood now certain
wilderness tragedies of whir,f he had
heard; how tenderfeet--iost 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 gallop, but he
forced 1t 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 quick and certain death, either
at the foot of a preeipice or from a
blow from low-hanging limb. The
horse seemed to be feeling its way,
rather than seeing
They were strange, lonely figures
in the darkness; and for 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 chancew
He rode long time before he an
swered. He groped 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, at Is one Of
the mercies of this world for men al
ways to think that they've got
chance. Maybe it's only cruelty In
our case"
II think l 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. 1 don't
know how many forks 1t has. We
might have already got on a 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. Lima, try to be
brave" he urged. 1--WE can only take
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 If 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 a 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-I wouldn't be here al
all"
| The feeling that they had lost th'
trail grew upon them. Once the,
hal:sd to adjust the blankets on tn
saddle, and they listened for any
sounds that might indicate that SimoI
was overtaking them. But all the!
heard was the soft rustic Of the leaves
under the wind-blown snow.
Linda" he asked suddenly. "Doe
1t seem to you to be awfully cold?'
She waited long time before sh'
spoke. This was not the hour t.
make quick answers. On any decision
might rest their success or failure.
II believe can stand it--a while
longer" she answered at last.
"But / don't think we'd better tr!
to. It's getting cold. Every hour III
colder, and seem to be getting weak
er. 1t isn't real wound, Linda-bu
II seems to have knocked some Of m!
vitality out Of me, and I'm dreadful!
In need Of rest. l think we'd bette
try to make camp"
sand go on by morning lightT
YES"
"But Simon might overtake n
then"
eve must stay. out of sight Of tn
trail. But somehow can't help bu
hope he won't try to follow US OF
such night as this"
He drew up the horse, and they sa
in the beat Of the snow. Don't maxi
any mistake about that, Bruce" sh'
told him. Remember. that unless NJ
overtakes M before we come into th'
protection Of the courts. his who'll
fight Is lost. Il doesn't alone meal
loss of the estate--for which he woul'
risk his life just as he has a dosel
times. II means defeat--a thing thn
would come hard to Simon. Besides
he's got a fire within him that vii
keep him warm
"You mean--hatred"