The Coolidge examiner., 1939-01-05
WNU SERVICE

sled. They had not travelled far
through the dusk of the river valley
when they passed the frozen effigies
of what had been two dogs, driven
until they died in harness, and then
cut loose. At daylight they reached
McQueens camp of the night be-
fore. And there in bush way
message. 1t read:
Trouble over gold. Dogs weak.
Come quick! H."
Desperate with the realization
that he must reach her at once, if
he hoped to save her-reach her be-
fore the madmen, ahead, destroyed
each other and her, Alan went to
his team.
Were going to see Heather,
soon, boys!" he said, dropping his
mittens TO stroke the massive heads.
She's only a few miles away.
There're seven dogs ahead of US,
but we're going to run them off their
feet. They haven't got Ungava
hearts in their chests and Ungava
bone in their legs. We're going to
run and run and run with the light
sled-util'we find her!'
Then Alan said to the black lead
dog: Its going to be all we've got
left, Rough-you and l. All day and
into the night-an we've got left for
Heather Then there'n be no more!
Marched"
Far in the southeast the sun lifted
on their last long day, for dogs and
men were near the end. The long,
uphill, Koksoak trail with its cruel
odds against the Ungavas was con-
quering at last. The iron bodies and
stout hearts in the shaggy chests
were giving their all. Soon, like
the dogs they had passed on the
trail, they, too, would reach their
last mile; soon, the legs of the half
crazed man who urged them on
would crumple under him on the
ice. And yet, men and dogs held to
the trail.
Cautiously the two men watched
the bends in the river, sweeping the
snow far in advance with the glasses
to look for a sudden angling of the
sled tracks to the shore which might
mean an ambush. Then, in the aft
ernoon, to their establishment, they
found the bodies of three dogs aban-
doned on the trail.
Noel, we've got them! We've got
them, now!" Cameron cried exult-
antly, hugging the Indian, then the
lead-dog. ITS four dogs to four!
The UngavaS win!"
"Dey are doneE" painted the grin
ming Indian, whose swart skin sank
in hollows beneath his high cheek
bones. I'VE see dem soon!"
Through the early dusk, like fam
ished wolves close to their kill,
marched four dogs, tails down,
tongues lolling, following two stiff
legged men, belts pinching gaunt
waists, who often stumbled as they
walked, only to catch themselves
and go on, their numbed legs shift
ing woodenly back and forth.
The stars lit the river ice. The
spruce went indigo black and still,
like six avenging furies, four wolf
lean dogs, and two men with eyes
glittering with the light of victory,
crawled YEARLY on. Then, as they
turned bend, Noel cried:
Look! Eet ees ovair! De fire.
light on de spruce!"
Ahead, in the blacknesS of the
scrub, was the glow of fire!
It seemed to Alan as if his heart
would burst. She was there, there
by that fire-Heather! They had
reached her-at last! His brain went
giddy with joy. 1t couldn't be true!
They had reached Heather!
He turned and threw his arms
about NoePs shoulders, while his
knees shook with his weakness.
We've got her, Noel! We've got
her!" he sobbed. John! JohnI
We've got-Hea atherl"
Their plans were quickly made.
They moved into the timber and,
throwing a salmon to each of the
exhausted dogs, made them fast
with wire leashes which they could
neither chew nor break. While they
rested, for the swift shooting that
was coming would call for steady
nerves, they wound rawhide around
the inside length of the bows Of their
showshoes to muff1e any possible
click. Then Alan slung McCord' s
shoulder holster, with the automat-
ic, to his belt and, taking their rifles,
the two men began the stalk of Nc
Queens camp from the timber in
the rear. They counted on the dogs
being too dead with fatigue to wake
until they reached the fire. Then j.
would be quick work.
ITO BE CONTINUED