The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-11-17

CHAPTER NNNlH
Prom Dawson city the Yukon
flows IN a northwcstcrly direction
toward tho International boundary,
and sltho tho camp Is scarcely
more than 90 miles due east o.
American territory. by tho river e
d 90. since the Yukon is tho main
artery OF travel both winter and
ynmmer--thero being no ruads or
trails-it bchooycd those malofBc
tors who fled tho wrath % tho
Northwest Mounted Police 70 obtain
4 liberal start. for 20 miles OF dead
flat going IL no easy run and tho
police teams were fleet or foot
Time was when evil.doers had uu,
lertaken 10 escape uprivvr, or 60
hose themselves in tho hills 20 the
adventure az BEST and had ended
adventure at best and had issued
N such uniform disaster as 20 dis
courage is practA,c. The police had
won the reputation OF never leaving
trail. and. IN cnnsaqueuce. mono
but madmcn longer riSked anything
except q dash for American soil,
and even then only with a suhstan-
tiRl margin OF timo IN their favor
But the winter winds are moody,
the temper OF the Arctic Is uncor-
taln. hence luck played a LARGE
HHHHa aHsHnH saH Int d
Rock and poret were sufficiently
familiar with the hazards and tho
disap appointments OF travel az this
igma OF year 10 feel extremely
doubtful or overhau1mg the two
McCaSkcys. and so they were by
no means sanEuinc ot success as
they drove headlong into the night.
Both teams were loaded light.
neither driver carried stove. tent.
or camp durrie sleeping bass, a
little cooked food Tor themselves,
4 bundle OF dried tish for the dogs,
that was tho LIMIT the pursuers
had allowed themselves Given good
weather, nothing moro was needed.
In case % a storm. a sudden bliz'
Eard, and a drop in temperature.
This lack OF equipment was apt 10
prove fatal. but neither traveller per
united himself 10 think about such
Ihings. Burdened thus lightly, tho
sleds rode high and the malamutes
roInpsl along with them. When
she lnte dawn finally came Il found
them FAR on their way
That wind. following the snowfall
Of the DAY hctoro. had been hap
py circumstances. Tor in many
places IL had blown the trail clean.
20 that daylight showed il winding
away into the Distance Ike thread
laid down Mt random. Here and
there. OF course. IL was hidden. I'M
asr the lee OF bluffs or Of wooded
bends. for instance Il was drtfted
deep. completely oblhsrated. In fact,
and in such places even seasoned
rnusher would have fpuudersd AIM
lessIy. trying TO hold Il. But 'Po-
leon Dors. possessed n sixth sense,
I, appeared. and his lead dos, too.
mad unusual saSactty. Rock. from
hts position in the rear. marveled
at the accuracy with which the
ycs.Gsrnan's sled followed tho mar.
-oay, hard packed ridge concealed
beneath the soft, new covering. IN
loubtedly the fellow knew his bust
mass and the officer congratulated
himself upon bringing him along.
They had been under way FOR
i've or six hours when The tardy
daylight came. but even thereafter
Doret continued to run with his
hand upon his sled Seldom did
hs ride. and then only for mo
rnent or two when the going was
best. For the most part he main
tanned a steady, swinging trot that
kept pace with the pauertns feet
ahead OF him and caused the miies
10 rapidly drop behind. Thru drifts
knee-deep. thru long. soft stretches
ne held to that unfaltsring stride;
occasionally he turned his head and
flashed smile or waved his hand
at the man behind.
Along about 10 o'clock hs halted
his team where a dead spruce over
hung the river bank. BY the time
Rock had pulled in behind him hs
had clambcred up the bank. AK In
hand, and was making the chips
ny. He sent the dry top crashing
down. then explained:
Dem dogs go better for III rest.
We boil de kettle, eh?'
Rock wiped the sweat from his
face. You're certainly hitting Il
off. old man. We've made good
time, but haven't seen any tracks.
Have your
we see 'em bimeby"
Kind OF joke If they hadn't
come. after aIl--if they'd really