The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-11
CHAPTER XVIII

tONdIu the international BOUNDARY
and although the camp is scarcely
more than fifty miles due east OF
American territory. BY the river it is
ninety. Since the Yukon is the main
artery of travel. both winter and
sumncr-therc being no roads OF
trails-it bchoovcd those malcfac.
tors who fled the wrath OF the
Northwest Mounted Police to obtain
a liberal start, for ninety miles OF
dead fiat going is no easy run and
the Police teams were fleet Of foot
Time was when evil-docrs had un.
dertakcn to escape up-river, or to
lose themselves in the hills tc tho
, northward, but this was desperate
adventure at best and had issued in
such uniform diSas tcr as to diScour-
age its practice. The Police had
won the reputation OF never leaving
a trail. and, in consequence, none
but madmcn longer riskcd anything
except a dash for American soil. and
even then only will, a substantial
margin OF time in their favor. ..
But the winter winds are moody,
the temper OF the Arctic is uncer-
tain. hence luck played large part
IN these enterprises. Both Rock and
Dorct were sufficiently familiar with
the hazards and tho disappo;ntmcnts
of travcl,at this time OF year to feel
extremely. doubtful OF ovcrhauline
the two McCaskcys, and so they
were hv no means sanCuinc OF Sic
cess as they drove hcadlons into tho
night.
Both teams were loaded light
neither driver carried stove, tent. Or
camp dutflc. Sleeping bags, a little
cooked food for themselves, a bun
die OF dried FISH for tho dogs. that
was tho limit the pursucrs had al
lowed themselves. Given good
weather. nothing more was needed.
Nv case OF :: storm. 4 sudden biz
card. and 4 drop in temperature,
tins lack OF equipment was apt to
prove iata', but neither traveller per-
united himself to think about suc!,
things. Bur1cHcd thus lightly, the
SlcdS rode high and the lnalamutcs
r"nlped along with them. When
the late dawn finally came it found
them far on their way.
That wind. following the snowfall
OF the day before, had been a happy
circumstance. Tor in many places it
had blown the trail clean. SO that
daylight showed it winding away
into the distance like thread laid
down at random. Here and there,
OF course. it was hidden: under tho
lee of bluffs or OF wooded bends,
tor instance. it was driitcd deep,
completely oblitcratcd, in fact, and
NJ such places even seasoned
musher would have foundcred AIM
lessly. trying to hold it. But "Po-
Icon Dorct possessed sixth sense,
ii appeared. and his lead dog. too.
.au unusual sagacity. Rock. from
his position i'll the rear, marvelcd at
The accuracy with which the woods
mans sled followed the narrow,
1ard-packcd ridge concealed beneath
he soft, new covering. Cndoubt-
ed.y the fellow knew his business
and the officer congratulated HIM
self upon bringing him along.
They had been under way for FIVE
or six hours when the tardy day.
light came. but even thereafter
Dorct continued TO run with his
hand upon his sled Seldom did he
ride, and then only for moment or
two when the going was best. For
The most part he maintained al
steady, swinging trot that kept pace
with the pattering feet ahead OF him
and caused the miles rapidly to drop
behind. Through drifts knee-deep,
through long. soft stretches he held
TO that unfaltering stride; OCCASION
ally he turned his head and flashed
Il smile or waved his hand at the
man behind.
Along about ten o'clock he halted
his team where dead spruce. over
hung the river-bank. By the time
Rock had pulled in behind him he
had clambercd up the bank. Ak in
hand. and was making the chips fly.
He sent the dry top crashing down,
then explained
Dem dogs 60 better for lii rest.
We boil de kettle, ch::"
Rock wiped the sweat from his
face. You're certainly hitting it of,
old man. We've made good time,
but | haven't seen any tracks. Have
you?" ~
1--WE see EN- bimcby."
Kind OF a joke if they hadn't
come, after all--if they'd really gone
out to Hunkcr. Gee! The laugh
would be Oh u" .
"Dcy come dis way" 'Poleon
stoutly maintained.
Soon a blaze was going: then,
while the ice in the b!ackcned tea
bucket was melting. the drivers
sliced slab of bacon into small
cubes and fed it sparingly. to their
animals, after which they carefully
examined the dogs feet and cleaned
them OF ice and snow pellets.
The tea was gulpcd. the bareback
swallowed, and the travellers were
under way again almost before their
sweaty bodies had begun to chill.
On they hurried, mile after mile,
sweeping past bends, eagerly, hope
fully scanning every empty tangent
that opened up ahead of them. They
made fast time indeed, but the inl-
mensity of the desolation through
which they passed, the tremendous
scale upon which this country had
been nodded. made their progress
seem slower than all ant-crawl.
Eventually Polcon shouted some
thing and pointed 10 the trail under
foot. Rock fancied he could detect
the faint, fresh markings of sled
runners, but into them he could not
read much significance. 1t was an
encouragement. to be sure, but, new
erthcless, he still had doubts, and
those doubts were not 6dispelled un-
til Dorct again halted his team, this
1NsTALMENT FoRrY.NINE