The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-03-10
by GEORGE MARSH
Copyright by Penn Pub. Co.
(WNU Service)
CHAPTER XIV-Continued


started down the river. purple with
shadow, between the bleak buttresses
of the hills Riding the sled where the
wind had secured the ice, breaking a
path on his snowshoes for his founder
ing dogs where drifts barred the way,
Jim pushed north. The sun lifted in
the southeast to rim the white ridges
with fire. Then. up the silent valley
drifted long wall on the freezing air.
The ears of the Flooding team lifted.
Their black nOstrils quivered as they
sought for the scent of their heredi-
tary enemy.
1.-The wolves are after some break
FAST" muttered Jim swapping his whip
as the dogs trOtted over a stretch of
wind-Scoured river. Again the far call
reached the team. Lifting his nose,
the shaggy leader sent back the an
swering challenge of the husky, as the
team behind him snarled and yelped in
their excitement.
A half-mile below, the river made a
sharp turn. Reaching the bend, Jim,
who was breaking TRAIL stopped in his
tracks; then, calling to his team. hur-
ried aheau, as three gray shapes left
dark object In the snow and skunk
from the river ice into the forest.
What was that by the trail?
Jim approached the thing in the
snow which the wolves had left.
after ALL" he groaned. as this
the end?" Had she despaired of his
coming? Did she wait there in the
snow for the man who was too late?
Cold with dread. Jim stumbled for
ward. followed by his dogs. and looked.
Torn by the fangs of the starving
wolves lay the carcass of husky. lean
to emaciation.
With a cry Of relief and joy, Jim
shouted to his shifting dogs
We've got him. boysl His dogs are
done! He left this one yesterday. but
he didn't travel far in that blowl"
Two miles farther on, fresh sled
trail leaving the timber for the river
ice marked the last camp of Paradis
But Jim's anxious search found no
message from the girl whose moccasins
had marked the snow.
Then with a shout to each of his
dogs and hug for the bony leader
the race was on. Three-four hours
lead with three dogs dying on their
feet separated Jim from the girl he
had followed into the frozen heart Of
Kiwedin. Before the sun hung high In
the south he would reach her-have
her in his arms Aurorel
Down the white valley shaved the
team with it's mad driver, f1Oundering
through breast-high drifts, where the
snow beloved like the sea; scrambling
at wild gallop over the wind-ham-
mered reaches. drawing closer, ever
closer, to the fleeing sled of Paradis
Squirting his painting dogs with curse
and caress, merciless alike to himself
and his team, the half-crazed Stuart
pressed on.
Then the river widened and the
white plain of lake opened before
the hollow eyes of the exhausted Jim.
Leaving his spent dogs on the snow,
Stuart climbed snow-drifted boulder.
Painfully his squirting eyes followed
the sled-trail out across the glittering
lake. He looked long. blinking in the
sun-glare from the snow; then leaped
from the boulder and staggered to his
team.
They're out there, Wolff We've
caught 'em. boy! We've wont"
Circling the lean neck of the lead
dog with his arms, Jim kissed the
SCARED skull of the great beast whose
gallant heart had kept the tagging
team on the trail.
Out over the white lake, broken by
drifts, reeled the dropping dogs, red
tongues swinging from lowered heads,
urged by their frenzied driver.
1.-TWO miles more, Wolf; only two
miles more, and we're through! !" plead
ed the strained voice of the man who
had cruciied his body to reach the
goal his eyes at last visioned.
Across the lake creeping spots on
the snow beckoned him on. Minute
by minute he gained on the moving
team ahead. Kneeling on his sled, his
rifle in his hands, Stuart's weakened
eyes sought the figure of Aurore. But
the sun-glare fused dogs and people
in a black blur.
Rapidly the pursuing team closed on
its quarry. Then the sled ahead
stopped The dogs were DOWN.
Jim dropped his mittens and cooked
his rifle. The beaten Paradis would
fire at the coming team-would not
quit without fight. If she'd only
leave the sled-run into the snow!
Didn't she see him-knOw he was COM
ing?s
Barely a rife-shot separated the
teams when tall figure lurched from
the stalled sled and stood over the
broken dogs sprawled in the snow.
Then an arm lifted long dog-whip-
fell: rose again and fell.
He was trying to lash his dogs to
their feetl Was he mad-out of his
head? Wouldn't he fight? Why didn',
he see them close on his heels?
Jim called to the huddled shape on
the sled. .'Aurore! AuroreI Lie
down! Get out of the way!' He mo-
toned with his free hand. but the
hooded head was turned from him.
"She's right in line of fire If he
shoots!" groaned the rapidly approach
ing Jim. Then the PROSTATE lead-dog
rose. The whip-handle of Paradis
crashed on his head but, crouching.
the husky lunged the length of his
traces; his jaws snapped. and he
pulled his tormentor to the snow.
AS Paradis fought to free himself
the girl reeled to the skeleton lead-dog
anchored by his traces. Again and
again she slashed al the rawhide tugs
Loose the maddened husky was on
the driver. tearing at his throat.
"Aurorei"
Turning. the girl dropped the knife
she held and like one In q dream