Evening star., 1923-09-22
CHAPTER XIV.

Spurred on by the sudden favorable
now held out the promise of an early
meeting with Hawkins and Tam, Pete
bent every effort toward getting well
under way before the comparatively
: easy travel under clear skies gave
way to perilous journeying through
storm-ridden mountains.
Following the recital of his sordid
story, Eliot seemed submissive and
willing enough to become a party to
temporary truce with his late enemy,
but Pete took no unnecessary chances
Always during the day Eliot led tho
way, Pete carrying the packs of both
of them in consideration of the great
er hardships of breaking the trail
which fell upon the halfbreed. Each
night Pete selected the camp site with
great care, always locating in the vicin-
tty of rocky, broken country, where a
could be used for sleeping quarters
Each night Eliot went in first, Pete
assuming the role of a sleeping guard
at the entrance. He had thrown away
all but his own two guns and at night
he took pains to keep these on the
side nearest the entrance
For three days they tramped silent
1Y and hard, the breed setting a kill
any but an experienced and hardened
mountaineer; but Pete's life at the
mine, and his weary tramps through
the mountains preceding the meeting
of Eliot and his brother. stood him
: in good stead now as he swung along
behind the leader, face set hard, and
eyes grimly fastened on the distant
peak that marked the trails end
Eliot had said the journey would
carry them thirty miles at least, but
when he had pointed out the peak
Pete felt that the distance had been
, overest1mated by at least one-half
Now, at the end of the third day, he
was beginning to feel that If the
il was because he had grossly under
estimated the distance.
Scarcely a word passed between the
men as they made their third camp.
Eliot seemed to devote his entire at
tantion to long and anxious looks at
little fiecks of clouds that gathered
like puffs of fluffy cotton about the
setting sun. Pete saw his worried
look and asked it's meaning.
"The -drgs-they are come" he
answered solemnly.
rSun-dogs?" Pete looked at the
queer dots of clouds. about the sun
"What is the meaning of that?"
when sun-dog-she come-they ees
always much bad storm in mountain.
It ees better we stay heer, tree
mebbe five day"
ate his frugal supper of corn, dried
fish and snow water biscuits, he join
ed Eliot in many anxious glances at
the evening sky.
Darkness again found them nesting
between huge powders. Pete, as al
ways, on the outside. sleeping with
his right hand firmly gripped about
the butt of his long -barreled gun.
AS they emerged for breakfast on
the following morning. Pete hastened
TO survey the sky for signs of the
predicted storm. He noted with much
relief that the sun was already creep
ing slowly over the distant crags,
and that, save for a slight wind that
came floating over the frozen surface
of the snow, there was no material
change in the weather from the past
four days.
vas of his pack.
Come on, 1t is already late" Pete
grunted, as he prepared his own pack
for the days march.
"Eiiot-ke eeS stay heer-sun-d dog
she warn heem.'' the breed replied
slowly, but with evident finality;
sundoEsi OF petn no prowIed snnIudogS, IS
words, he gave his belt a vicious
hitch, throwing the holster of his
guns into a more prominent and ac-
cessible position.
Eliot slowly dreW up MS shoulders
into a long, exasperated shrug, such
as only q half-breed could make; a
shrug that said more plainly than
words: 60 ahead if you are fool
enough: but I'm staying here"
Pete was in no humor for an argu-
ment. The excessive hard pace of
the past few days, coupled with his
intense anxiety to know il Eliot had
told the truth concerning the fate
of Hawkins. caused him to shout
short and ugly words at the sl1rug-
ging breed.
you come now, Eliot, or by God
you stay here forever" With the
, words Pete ripped a. gun from it's
holster and pointing it straight at
Eltot's head, continued:
"Come-you move-get started-we