The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-01-06
THE
SKYLINE
SPRUCE
L. Gil N,xslu-
Nv OQtNCfiN Hsttfofhtib
S4n-li,ia poen Z CumplTJ

eyes ana tho white flame on hi,
checks an he had assured her Of her
safety.
In mid-afternoon Ben began e
think OF making his nighta camp
From time 20 timc tho hank became
an upright precipico where not oven
troc could ind foothold. aud Il
Tad occurred O. him. with sudden
vividncrs. that he did not wiah the
darkness 90 overtako him In such 4
place. The river rocks would make
short work Of him. IN that case. II
was better TO pick out a camp site
In plenty Of time lest they could not
find one at the days end.
In one Of the more quiet stretches
OF water no saw tho place small
cove and green. tree-clad bank,
with tho gorge rising behind. Hand
Ink hts canoe with greatest care be
slsnted toward u. A moment later
he had caught the brush a, the wat
cr's edge. stepped off into shallow
water. and was drawing the canoe up
onto the bank.
We're thru for tho day" he said
HAPPILY, as he helped Beatrice out or
tho boat I'm confess I'm ready 10
rest"
Beatrice made no answer because
her eyes were busy. Cooily and
quietly she took stock OF the situa-
ton. trying 20 got an idea Of tho
geographical features OF fhe eanp
site. she saw IN a glance. however
that there was no path 20 freedom
up the gorge behind her. Tho rocks
were precipltate; besides. she rene,n
bered that over a hundred mile. OF
impossible wilderness lay between
her and her fathers cabin. withou,
food and supplies she could not hope
70 make tho Journey
The racing river. however. wax.
encd a curious. inviting srain OF
thought The torren, continued
largely undated for az least 100
miles more. she knew. and tho hours
that u would be pasSabie IN a canoe
were numbered Tho river had fall
en- steadily all day: driftwood was
LEFT on the shorc: rocks dried swiftly
In tho sun. cropping out like fanru
above the foam OF the stream. Was
there siiii time 20 drift on down the
fuFa a hundred or more miles TO the
distant Indian encampmcntf She
shu, the thought from her mind. at
present. and turned her attention 20
the work Of making camp.
With entire good huuior Hhe began
70 gather such pieces OF dead wood
as she could md for their fira.
Your prisoner might az well make
herself usefui." she said.
Ben's face lighted as she had not
seen u since their outward tourney
from Snowy Gulch. Thank God
you're taking Z, that way, Beatrice. 4
he told her ferv~ntiy. 1T was a prop 4
,sition ! couldn't help"
But thu girls eyes flashed. and her /
fps got tn a hard iin.. I'm doing
: 70 make my own time 10 faster
he told him softly. rather slowly. Il
sant you TO remember that"
But instantly both forgot their
words 10 listen to familiar oiuckfnx
'ound from a nearby shrub Peer Il
mr. closely they made out the plump. 4
Trnini form Of Frankfin'a Krouns---a
'ird known far and wide In the north
or her ample breast and her tender
leah.
Good Lord. there's superb Ben
whispered Beatrice. ret your PTS
Oh"
Her eyes smiled as she looked him
n tho face. you remsmber--my
istoi isn't ioadedi-
Excuse me. ! forgot. Give n 70
ne"
She handed him the little run. and
q slipped IN the shells h. had taken
rom H. Then-for the simple and
ensibis reason that he didn't want
take any chance on tho loss OF
heir dinner--he stole within 20 feet
tho bird Very carefully he drew
own on the plump neck.
Dinner all safe" he remarked
amer Enyiy. a. the grouse came
lmbling thru the branches
XIV
Quietly Beatrice retrieved the bird )
nd began 20 remove its feathers. .
EN- built the fire. chopped sfurelly :
haif-grown spruce until II shat
red 70 the earth. and then chopped
into lengths for fuel When the ,
70 was blazing bright. he cut away /.
10 green branches and laid them, /.
ems overlapping. into fragrant
"a.
Here's where you sleep tonight,
eatrice." he informed her.
She stopped In her work long :
rough 70 try the aprinrv boueha y