Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1932-11-24
CHAPTER ~VIII-Continued

the darkness OF the further cave, carry
Ing ! smoking torch as before, vanish
Ing from Gloria's eyes She had but
to snatch up the few things she meant
to take with her, to 60 out. to find her
ray down the cliffs She hesitated
and time passed.
At length King returned. She noted
that bis coat was OF that TN IT, Hs iii
I bag. he carried something heavy.
This goes with us wherever we
CO. he announced triumphantly. ats
u big breathing spell for Ben Gaynor."
He dumped 1t out there we're other
Jumps like the two he had brought
back the first time.
If you can whip up enough endur-
ance for the work ahead OF us" he an
nounced impersonaIly, we stand a
good chance of getting out OF this.
Otherwise. we stand q whole lot bet
Ter show Of being caught here and
freezing and starving to death. A
storm Ike this he told her, may
blow itself out soon and 1t may keep
ON for 4 long time As 1t Is we'll have
our work cut out for us ii this keeps
mp all afternoon and all night "
He shrugged.
~You mean that then we couldn't
get Out at all!' she asked sharply.
King nodded and began his prepare
tons With jealous eye he judged the
weight. bulk. and worth OF every ar
ticIe- Bacon. to the last small scrap
and fat-lined rind, coffee. to the once
boiled dregs i'm the coffee-pot, he
packed carefully. Then he took ND
the discarded articles and hid them
under some loose dirt In d remote,
black corner of the cave. Ten minutes
later he Dad gotten first his pack, then
Gloria safely down the cliffs, and they
started.
Gloria was upborne at every step by
the expectation OF coming presently to
their horse. and OF having nothing to
do from then on but hold to the pom-
mel and have King lead her on to an
ultimate safety So when they came
TO the spot where King had tethered
his horse. xnd there was no horse
there. Gloria simply collapsed. King
stared about him with an almost equal
CONSERVATION.
Leaving Gloria, he put down rifle
and pack and hurried down into the
hollow where he had tethered his
horse Five minutes Of reading the
signs In the snow told him the story.
A bear had come up over the ridge!
had frightened the horse into breaking
its tefher and running.
King came back slowly and sat down
On his pack. His lips frightened. The
afternoon vas passing and the dark
would come early.
Are you up to c~rowding ahead on
r he called to Gloria.
She moaned miserably. II am sick.
I'm dying | think I can't 20 on"
King grunted disgustedly.
-Wen 20 back to the cave for the
after air. he told her quietly.
Stand upf-
But GlOria's head moved the slight
est bit In sidewise negation her pale
lips stirred soundlessly.
-Whzt?" asked King.
II can't came her whisper.
-You've got to-" he informed her
DO you want TO lie here and
lie tonightT~
Il don't care" said Gloria listIessIy.
He turned away. took up his pack
Ind gum. set his back square upon her.
ind uudged of toward the only shelter
hi w1s theirs. He did not turn TO
Ook behind him until be had gone
'uTly half of the way to the cave.
Then be dropped his burden and went
lack 10 her.
He had meant to storm at her, to
&tr her Into activity by the Iashings OF
llz r1H- But instead he stopped and
zthercd her up Into his arms and car.
led hr through the storm. shielding
- body MI that h. could. The climb
- hard md slow. and more than