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- float: left; - margin-right: 1em } - -.align-right { clear: right; - float: right; - margin-left: 1em } - -.align-center { margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto } - -div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } - -/* SECTIONS */ - -body { margin: 5% 10% 5% 10% } - -/* compact list items containing just one p */ -li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } - -.first { margin-top: 0 !important; - text-indent: 0 !important } -.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } - -span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } -img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } -span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } - -.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } - -/* PAGINATION */ - -@media screen { - .coverpage, .frontispiece, .titlepage, .verso, .dedication, .plainpage - { margin: 10% 0; } - - div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage - { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } - - .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } -} - -@media print { - div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } - div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } - - .vfill { margin-top: 20% } - h2.title { margin-top: 20% } -} - -</style> -<title>TWO ON THE TRAIL</title> -<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> -<meta name="PG.Title" content="Two on the Trail" /> -<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<meta name="DC.Creator" content="E. E. Cowper" /> -<meta name="DC.Created" content="1922" /> -<meta name="MARCREL.ill" content="W. Paget" /> -<meta name="PG.Id" content="40663" /> -<meta name="PG.Released" content="2012-09-04" /> -<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> -<meta name="DC.Title" content="Two on the Trail A Story of Canada Snows" /> - -<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> -<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> -<meta content="Two on the Trail A Story of Canada Snows" name="DCTERMS.title" /> -<meta content="trail.rst" name="DCTERMS.source" /> -<meta content="en" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" name="DCTERMS.language" /> -<meta content="2012-09-04T21:49:24.981258+00:00" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.modified" /> -<meta content="Project Gutenberg" name="DCTERMS.publisher" /> -<meta content="Public Domain in the USA." name="DCTERMS.rights" /> -<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40663" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> -<meta content="\E. \E. Cowper" name="DCTERMS.creator" /> -<meta content="\W. Paget" name="MARCREL.ill" /> -<meta content="2012-09-04" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.created" /> -<meta content="width=device-width" name="viewport" /> -<meta content="EpubMaker 0.3.19b4 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" name="generator" /> -<style type="text/css"> -.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.toc-pageref { float: right } -pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } -</style> -</head> -<body> -<div class="document" id="two-on-the-trail"> -<h1 class="document-title level-1 pfirst title">TWO ON THE TRAIL</h1> - -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="clearpage"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="align-None container language-en noindent pgheader" id="pg-header" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<p class="noindent pfirst">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the <a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a> -included with this eBook or online at -<a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a>.</p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container noindent white-space-pre-line" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst white-space-pre-line"><span class="white-space-pre-line">Title: Two on the Trail<br /> - A Story of Canada Snows<br /> -<br /> -Author: E. E. Cowper<br /> -<br /> -Release Date: September 04, 2012 [EBook #40663]<br /> -<br /> -Language: English<br /> -<br /> -Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line">*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK <span>TWO ON THE TRAIL</span> ***</p> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> -</div> -<div class="align-None container coverpage"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 61%" id="figure-11"> -<span id="cover"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -Cover</div> -<div class="legend"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container frontispiece"> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 63%" id="figure-12"> -<span id="motionless-before-her-stood-a-figure-wrapped-in-the-usual-indian-blanket"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-front.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -Motionless before her stood a figure wrapped in the usual Indian blanket. p. <a class="reference internal" href="#id1">100</a></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None center container titlepage white-space-pre-line"> -<p class="pfirst white-space-pre-line x-large">TWO ON THE TRAIL</p> -<p class="large pnext white-space-pre-line">A STORY OF CANADA SNOWS</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY<br /> -E. E. COWPER</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst small white-space-pre-line">AUTHOR or "THE MOONRAKERS," "KITTIWAKE'S CASTLE,"<br /> -"CREW OF THE SILVER FISH," ETC.</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">WITH A FRONTISPIECE BY<br /> -W. PAGET</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">LONDON<br /> -THE SHELDON PRESS<br /> -NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C. 2<br /> -New York and Toronto: The Macmillan Company<br /> -1922</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container plainpage white-space-pre-line"> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">CONTENTS</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">CHAPTER</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<ol class="left medium upperroman simple white-space-pre-line"> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-log-house">The Log House</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#a-surprise-that-brings-suspicion">A Surprise that Brings Suspicion</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#nell-makes-up-her-mind">Nell Makes up her Mind</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-howl-of-the-wolf">The Howl Of The Wolf</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#little-eyes-has-a-forked-tongue">"Little Eyes has a Forked Tongue"</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#green-eyes-in-the-darkness">Green Eyes in the Darkness</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#a-midnight-battle">A Midnight Battle</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-mysterious-camp-fire">The Mysterious Camp Fire</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#how-the-great-bull-fled-for-his-life">How the Great Bull Fled for his Life</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-camp-on-the-wolf-s-tooth-rocks">The Camp on the Wolf's Tooth Rocks</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-hunters">The Hunters</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-flight-continues">The Flight Continues</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#a-race-for-life">A Race For Life</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#rifle-shots">Rifle Shots</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#in-which-the-ice-goes-out-and-the-trail-leads-home">In which the Ice Goes out, and the Trail Leads Home</a></p> -</li> -</ol> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst x-large" id="the-log-house">TWO ON THE TRAIL</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">CHAPTER I</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE LOG HOUSE</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"Do you suppose anything has happened to -him?" asked the boy; "do you, Nell?"</p> -<p class="pnext">He had been asking that question a great many -times a day for a good many days. Every time -he asked it his sister said, "Oh no, of course not," -and set about any sort of work to prove she was -not thinking anxious thoughts. At last, however, -her answer was rather slower in coming, and on -this particular occasion no answer came till David -touched her arm.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do you, Nell?" he urged.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I don't know. I shouldn't think so," she said, -but instead of getting busy she sat still and stared -at the red-hot stove, her strong hard hands clasped -round her knees, and a frown on her forehead--actually -doing nothing at all but just think!</p> -<p class="pnext">This state of things was surprising enough to -make "Da," as she called her young brother, more -persistent than ever. He was a big, strong, -square-shouldered boy of twelve, or thereabouts, and his -sister was to him very much what the Captain of -the First Eleven might be to a boy in an English -school. She was wonderful. She could do -anything and everything that he understood and that -came into his life, as well--better than anyone he -knew. Besides the jobs that men left over--in his -experience--and which Nell did as cleverly as the -mother who had died about five years before.</p> -<p class="pnext">Da had entire confidence in her, and who shall -say he had not a right to, considering all that he -saw and knew about her!</p> -<p class="pnext">She was fifteen; a head and shoulders taller than -himself, and apparently as strong as their father. -Her dark red hair was short as his own. That is to -say, as short as hair can be where people have no -shops and do their own hair-cutting. Her eyes -were greenish grey and sharp as the keen, still -eyes of the grey lynx that got trapped once in a -way in the snares set for mink and martens.</p> -<p class="pnext">David admired her hair and eyes with all his -heart, chiefly because she was the only member -of their small family like that--he and his father -having darkish eyes and hair. Nell was supposed -to have taken after a Scottish ancestress, with a -vigorous character, not after the fair little mother -with yellow hair and blue eyes; and when people -start off like that in an independent manner they -usually take a line of their own all through.</p> -<p class="pnext">In fact, Nell Lindsay was a girl to be trusted; -dependable and clever, which was a very good -thing, because she needed every bit of it in the -present crisis.</p> -<p class="pnext">She and her young brother were alone in the -log house--or shack--more than a hundred miles -from any settlement. The two nearest were -Abbitibbi House on the lake, away to the -eastward, and Brunswick House, north on Moose -River. Possibly the distance was equal, and Nell -calculated it at a hundred and fifty miles either way.</p> -<p class="pnext">That is nothing much in a country of railways, -or even of good roads, but it is a long way over -trackless waste, pathless forest, and snow--without -guide, without help from human company.</p> -<p class="pnext">When Nell did not answer David's persistent -questions any longer, it was because she was -thinking about the one hundred and fifty miles--and -more--that lay between the shack and friends. -It was friends she wanted. There were men nearer -than that, but Nell was not sure they were friends, -and therein lay the whole trouble, you see.</p> -<p class="pnext">Over all that wilderness of forest and waste, -river and lake, there lived trappers who had -marked out certain districts as their own particular -trapping grounds. Some were Indians, some -white men who had taken up this life for the -freedom and profit of making money by selling -pelts--that is skins--to the traders who bought -them up for the big Companies.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was an understood thing that the trappers -did not poach on each other's grounds. If they -tried they ran the risk of being shot by the -rightful owner. They were rough men, and -followed rough laws of their own making.</p> -<p class="pnext">The traders came round in early spring and -bought up the fur. Or perhaps the trappers -took great bundles of pelts away to the trading -posts, got their money and spent it enjoying -themselves to make up for the hardships of winter. -But Andrew Lindsay was never one of these. -He bought his flour, tea, bacon, and tobacco -from the traders, sold his pelts and kept his -money, so that after a bit it came to be common -talk that he had saved a lot and hidden it in, or -near, the log house. He was not the sort of man -to imagine that people might think this. He -loved the wild lands for the beauty and grandeur, -and hated the work of an office and the close life -in towns. This feeling had driven him north -from San Francisco when he was first married. -Here he had been in the Dominion, winter and -summer, ever since, but he had not lost sight of -the importance of education for his boy, and -the money was saving up for that. David was -to be an engineer. The years of work had paid -very well and Nell knew her father's plan. -Also she knew about the money, and that this -was perhaps the last winter they would spend in -the shack among the woods on the steep hills -that ran for over a thousand miles from the -northern frontier of Ontario to the Watchish -Mountains in North-East Territory. The girl -was content either way. Whatever her father -decided was right, she thought. The winter was -coming to an end very soon--it was the last -week in March--and he had gone on his last -round to look at traps on the more distant -runways. The last, because fur gets thin and poor, -and loses its thick beauty when the terrible cold -of winter is giving before spring.</p> -<p class="pnext">And then, when it was the last thing they would -have thought of, this blow had fallen--Lindsay -had not come back. He had gone out into the -glittering light of the snowy world, with his gun, -his double-lined fur sleeping bag, and food -enough for four days. <em class="italics">Eight</em> days had passed, -and he had not returned.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now that is how matters stood on a certain -afternoon as the grey dusk began to creep through -the trees and close in round the lonely log house. -It was a difficult position for the girl, but she -never for a moment gave way to impatience.</p> -<p class="pnext">This house of theirs was as different from an -English home as could well be--which mattered -not at all to the young Lindsay pair, because they -had no idea what an English house was like.</p> -<p class="pnext">This house was built of rough logs--one big -room in the middle and either end partitioned -off, thus making two small bedrooms. This -was considered luxurious, as most of the trappers -had but one room in the shack, for sleeping and -eating, and work, too. The walls were just -rough logs inside as well as out, the cracks -between were stuffed in with mud and the -coarse moss that grows up north. Over this -skins were hung, on the floor big skins were -laid. From the rafters bacon hung and onions -grown in the summer. In the corners stood -sacks of potatoes and flour. The former is very -important food in a country that is frozen up -about seven months of the year, because when -you cannot get green stuff there is risk of scurvy, -and raw potatoes are the cure for that. They -must be kept from the least touch of frost, of -course, otherwise they go rotten.</p> -<p class="pnext">On the floor in one corner was a pile of skins -smaller and more valuable than the grey wolf, -the black bear, and the yellow puma of the hills, -that hung on the walls.</p> -<p class="pnext">As Nell sat by the big stove thinking, her keen -eyes wandered from one possession to another. -Finally they rested on the dog and considered -him thoughtfully.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now this dog was not the kind you would -expect to find in a trapper's hut, because he was -close-haired, while the dogs used to pull sledges -in all parts of the north lands have thick coats -and bushy tails. They are called "huskies" and -have a lot of wolf in their composition. In the -very far north they train in teams of four up to -twelve and are wonderfully clever at their work, -taking a great pride in it, and refusing to let -other dogs take their place in the line. But if -they are strong and clever they are also exceedingly -savage, and if one of their number gets badly -hurt--so that he cannot defend himself--they -set upon him and eat him, just as wolves do when -one of the pack is disabled.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Robin Lindsay," as Nell called him, was in -no way that kind of dog. He was nearly black, -with a broad chest and smooth, close coat. He -had ears that drooped forward like a hound's, a -wrinkled forehead, and wise brown eyes. Certainly -he was all sorts of dog, but it was all of the -best, which mattered a great deal in that terribly -lonely place. Andrew Lindsay had brought him -home one day, four years ago, having bought him -from a man who was going to make an end of -what he thought was a useless puppy.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now he lay on the thick grey skin of a wolf, his -nose between his paws--watching Nell's face with -little twitches of his thoughtful forehead. He knew -there was something the matter, and waited.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What shall you do, Nell, if Dad doesn't -come back to-night?" asked David, stopping in -his work of carving a tiny little sled out of wood. -"You'll have to do something, shan't you?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell got up from her seat on the bench, walked -slowly to the door, slid back the heavy bolt, -opened the door and looked out. A raw chill -entered and seemed to creep into every corner -on the instant. Robin rose to his feet, stalked -after his mistress and sniffed the doorstep -enquiringly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I thought so," said the girl as she shut out -the bitter dusk.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Thought what?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I thought it was snowing, and it is."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I suppose you mean that will wipe out Dad's -trail? Is that it?" asked the boy.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It wouldn't make a scrap of difference to -Robin, he'd follow a trail through inches of snow. -You simply can't bluff him. He always knows. -No, I wasn't thinking about the trail exactly--not -in that sort of way, anyhow--it's not much -good hunting a trail when you pretty well know -where it's going to lead you at the start. I mean, -Da, that I guess where Dad is. When I'm -certain I'll tell you most likely. Matter of fact I -was <em class="italics">hoping</em> for snow."</p> -<p class="pnext">"You were!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"It'll come in useful if I'm not mistaken," -said Nell in a conclusive tone.</p> -<p class="pnext">David stared at her, puzzled. He believed she -was the cleverest girl alive, but he did not even -remotely understand what she was talking about. -On the face of the situation snow was the most -tiresome impediment to any sort of move. He -knew it might be expected now, because when -the bitterest, glittering frost began to give way -to the cold that comes between winter and spring, -the snow was softer underfoot and falls might be -constantly expected. Slight as the change was, -the wind had not the same icy breath. Not that -one felt warmer, on the contrary, the faint tinge -of damp made the air cold beyond description, -but probably there was not quite the same danger -of frost-bite for the face and hands.</p> -<p class="pnext">David knew all these things as a matter of -course. He had been born and brought up in -the country. But he did not see what the snow -could have to do with the present trouble! -However, it was better to go on carving his sled than -show ignorance, so he waited, glancing up at his -sister every few seconds, as she paced slowly -away from the stove and back to it again, in a -kind of thoughtful sentry-go.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then Robin growled, deep down in his throat. -He had not settled down again on his bed, but -sat up watching Nell's promenade. He had -lifted his muzzle and sniffed the air with a delicate, -sensitive movement as though he were feeling -something very gently.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then he growled--very low and deep.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="a-surprise-that-brings-suspicion">CHAPTER II</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">A SURPRISE THAT BRINGS SUSPICION</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">David sprang to his feet and moved towards -the door. Neither he nor the girl said or -thought for an instant it might be the missing -man, because they knew the dog would not have -growled in that case.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was either a stranger or someone Robin was -not fond of.</p> -<p class="pnext">In a few seconds the crunch of snowshoes -came to their ears, and then there was a heavy -knock on the door.</p> -<p class="pnext">David gripped Robin by the skin of his neck. -The bristles were standing up along his back, -and the boy's hold would have been but a slight -check had not the animal been very obedient; -he was never savage like a husky. As Nell went -forward to the door she shifted into convenient -position the little automatic pistol that her father -insisted on her wearing at all times.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Who's there?" she asked, as the knock -came again.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Friend, miss," answered a voice from -outside. "News of your dad."</p> -<p class="pnext">Now the voice was not only rough, but it had a -foreign tone to it, and Nell's quick mind -instantly jumped to the identity of its owner.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Stenson," she said, over her shoulder to -David, "you know Jan Stenson--the one Dad said -was 'more Finn than Swede.' He's partner with -Barry Jukes on the location up above Abbitibbi -little River. Watch out, Da, we've got to be -wide awake. Don't say much."</p> -<p class="pnext">The big bolt was sliding along as she whispered -these words quickly--and in a moment the door -opened.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Won't you step inside, Mr. Stenson? What's -your news?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Mr. Jan Stenson stepped inside, and the dog -received a smack from David for growling in an -undertone, while the man unstrapped his -snowshoes, and set them against the wall. He was a -short person, not so tall as Nell, but looked as -broad as he was high. Of course the clothes he -wore emphasised this appearance: skins with -fur inwards, and a sort of cap-like hood to the -coat, drawn close round the face by a string, and -edged all round with little furry tails to keep the -freezing wind from the features--otherwise a -man gets frost-bite in the nose or cheeks.</p> -<p class="pnext">Jan Stenson threw back his hood--or "parka," -as it is called--and showed a broad, rather flat -face, and close-set eyes that shifted as he talked. -Nell asked him to sit down, so he sat on a bench -near the stove and smoked tobacco that she -offered.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You can have tea or cocoa," said the girl. -"Dad hasn't any use for spirits."</p> -<p class="pnext">Mr. Stenson chose tea, without thanks. He -had a good deal of use for spirits when he could -get them--no easy matter in the Dominion!</p> -<p class="pnext">Then he told the story for which the two were -waiting so eagerly.</p> -<p class="pnext">It seemed that Andrew had reached the border -line where his district touched theirs, when he -found a very large wild cat caught in a mink -trap. Stenson called the beast a "catamount," -so Nell knew he meant one of the largest and -most savage of the wild cat tribe--about as big -as a lynx and in some ways even more powerful. -The creature had special value alive--far above -the mere skin--because a certain travelling -company down east had offered a big price for -one--for the Show--uninjured. Therefore it -entered Lindsay's mind that here was the chance -to do well, and he tried to smother the mad -animal down with his sleeping bag, and rope it -securely, intending then to free the paw caught -in the iron spring. But somehow this plan missed -fire. The catamount, frantic with pain, fastened -on the man's knee with its terrible fangs and -claws, and he was obliged to shoot it, but not -before he had suffered very serious injury.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He made shift to overhaul our shack, but he -was about done in. Not a trick left in him. It -might be a long job," suggested Mr. Stenson, -glancing sideways at the girl, "them catamounts -is chock full up with pison--bad as pumas and -that like."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bad luck indeed," said Nell soberly. "Thank -you very much for coming over to tell us. What -does Dad want us to do?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Looks as though he makes out to have you -both over at the Abbitibbi. That's what I come -along for--to see if you'd do it. He's got to be -done for, sure enough. You and him and the -boy can have the shack. It's no odds to me and -Barry. There's the wood-house lean-to where -we can roll up. We've done worse many's the -time. Why not? You think it out and look at -it that your Dad wants someone about. It may -be weeks if he don't get proper attendance, and -he makes out to be off soon as the snow clears. -Eh? Well, he won't do that if his leg's left to -get worse. Them catamounts is full up with pison."</p> -<p class="pnext">This was rather a long speech on the whole for -Jan Stenson. He did not "make out to talk," -as he would have said of himself. But he was -apparently earnest about this, and kept on -impressing the urgency of it in jerky sentences -between puffs at his pipe.</p> -<p class="pnext">After a pause Nell asked.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Did Dad send us any message?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Said he hoped you'd come along. He don't -find no treat in layin' up in a bunk, when he -wants to clear up the traps."</p> -<p class="pnext">"No, poor Dad," agreed Nell thoughtfully. -"Let me think." She paused, and sat very -quiet as she stroked Robin's smooth head. Under -her fingers she could feel his throat move as he -growled without sound.</p> -<p class="pnext">David looked from one to the other as the talk -went on. He did not like the trapper, but he -thought he and Jukes were very kind in this -instance and meant well. He wondered what -Nell would do, though it certainly seemed as -though there was not much choice in the matter. -Presently she broke silence by asking exactly -when the accident had occurred. According to -Stenson, Lindsay had been nearly a week laid -up, but they had been too busy to give notice -earlier. The man said nothing about the distance--a -matter of thirty miles--because it was not -considered anything much in a country of great -distances. Men with a sled and a dog team -would travel on snowshoes thirty miles a day and -more without considering it an out of the way -effort. And Stenson was, what is called, -"travelling light," with nothing but a pack on his back, -consisting of his sleeping blanket, his gun, and -some pemmican (dried pressed meat); he was -on his way, he said, to a camp of Indian trappers -not far to the north-west. They were some -wandering Chippewa, or Ojibway Indians, -belonging to the tribes on the big lakes, to the -south-west. They travelled away in parties -hunting and collecting furs, and the trappers -often bought these from them for tea, tobacco, -and blankets. There was always a lot of exchange -going on and Nell, understanding all about it, -did not question Stenson's business.</p> -<p class="pnext">Still ignoring his invitation she offered him -bread--the sour-dough bread she made herself--and -meat as well as the tea; he ate without -comment, his close-set eyes shifting looks to -every part of the room, and everything in it. -When he had finished he got up. Then the girl -said as though the subject had never been -dropped:</p> -<p class="pnext">"I don't see why you and Barry Jukes couldn't -get Dad up home with your sled. He'd pay for -loss of time if it comes to that. Why not?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Stenson shook his head. He said the snow was -getting soft, and the ground would be much too -rough for an injured man. Besides, they'd sold -their dogs, and he and Barry didn't "lay-out" -to pull such a load added to a camping outfit, -because they'd have to make two days, if not -three of it.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You can't go shifting a man in his state," -he said, "not without worse to follow. See here, -miss, you get your outfit together, and I'll call in -for you the third day from now and take you -along. You and the boy and the dog--how's -that? It won't be for long. Sight of you will -mend up that knee fine. Like enough your Dad -will make out to come back home with you in ten -days or thereabouts, taking it slow and camping. -I know you got a hand sled. We can makeshift -to load your traps on that. The dog and I can -pull and you can take a hand at pushing."</p> -<p class="pnext">Thus Jan Stenson explained his ideas as he -pulled over his parka, dragged on his big fur -mitts, and made ready to go out into the dusk.</p> -<p class="pnext">"When did you say--exactly?" asked Nell.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Third day from now," he was fastening -on his snowshoes in the doorway. "I lay out -to make old Ogâ's camp in three hours. I'll -get through business to-morrow and come for -you morning after. Nine o'clock more or less, -we don't want more than one camp--if that."</p> -<p class="pnext">"All right," agreed Nell, nodding her head, -"don't come sooner, because I shan't be ready. -There's a lot to do. I can't risk the potatoes -freezing--I'll have to put them in fur bags. -Well, good night, Mr. Stenson, and thank you -for coming."</p> -<p class="pnext">It was not David's usual habit to remain silent, -but he had been so surprised through this queer -visit and so entirely astonished at the ending of -it that even after the bolt slid into place he only -stared at his sister, turning over twenty questions -he wanted to ask, but not asking one.</p> -<p class="pnext">"So <em class="italics">that's</em> finished!" said Nell, shutting her -teeth together with a snap. Then she threw -herself down on the skin rug, leaned her back -against the bench, clasped her fingers round her -bent knees and concluded, "Now, let me think."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wish you weren't always thinking and -never saying anything," remarked David. "I -want to know about one thousand things, Nell, -and you never tell me one! Do you like that -chap? <em class="italics">I</em> don't, and Robin hates him--<em class="italics">bite</em> him, -Rob--hey, bite him!"</p> -<p class="pnext">There was a mix-up on the floor between the -big black hound and the boy. When it settled -into peace, Nell asked as though nothing had -interrupted:</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why don't you like Stenson?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, I don't know. He's a snake and a -rotter. His eyes keep on slewing round. He tells -lies. When it comes to that why does old Rob -hate him? I say, Nell, are you really going to -take that trail on Thursday?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell looked at the boy's earnest eyes, and a -little twisted smile curled one corner of her firm -mouth.</p> -<p class="pnext">"No," she said.</p> -<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">No</em>, why--how will you get out of it? I <em class="italics">say</em>----"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Easy enough. We shan't be here, my dear."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Shan't be <em class="italics">here</em>! Where shall we be then?"</p> -<p class="pnext">David opened his mouth as well as his eyes -when the full force of this surprising news began -to sink into his mind.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well--with any luck--and God's help, my -child--we shall be on the trail for Fort -St. Louis. Anyway, either that, or to Brunswick -House. I mean to strike the lake at the bottom -of the Divide, and make the very straightest trail -we can down the river, till we hit the Moose----"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Great snakes!" gasped David, his eyes -shining with excitement, "but, look here, old -girl--aren't you biting off more than you can -chew? It's a pretty big proposition, you know. -How far to Fort Louis from here?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"About two hundred miles, but we shall -strike the Moose River before that and then -we shall be pretty safe, because there are more -folk over there." Nell spoke as though it was all -settled in her mind, which was comforting to her -astonished brother.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How do you mean <em class="italics">safe</em>?" he asked.</p> -<p class="pnext">"From this gang. They are up to something, -and I guess what it is."</p> -<p class="pnext">"You do. What is it then?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I've no time to explain now," said the girl, -jumping up with an energetic spring, "there's a -whole heap to do and no time to do it in, for we -ought to get a few winks of sleep to-night or we -shall be sleepy on the trail." Then seeing -another question on David's tongue, she added, -"We must get off early to-morrow morning."</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="nell-makes-up-her-mind">CHAPTER III</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">NELL MAKES UP HER MIND</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Nell Lindsay worked like two people -that evening. She put the potatoes into -fur bags as she said, and went over everything -of value in the shack. She could not stop to -talk, but David--admiring her more and -more--gathered her plans and intentions from what she -said as they worked.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You see, it didn't come upon me all in one -moment," she explained, "because I'd been -hacking away at this notion for the last four days -really. Ever since Dad didn't come, you see, Da. -<em class="italics">If</em> he didn't come, the only plan was to find out -what was wrong from the Chippewas--we could -make their camp and ask--and then simply -strike the trail for the Fort, because Dad would -want us to do that one thing."</p> -<p class="pnext">David checked with his hands full of potatoes -to say:</p> -<p class="pnext">"But look here--what about Dad now?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well--I don't think I believe all that story. -It's got a kind of false feeling in it. Dad may -have got his knee hurt, but I'm certain sure, Da, -he never meant us to leave this and go over to -Abbitibbi Lake with Stenson. I'm <em class="italics">sure</em> he never -did. Probably he said to Stenson, 'as you're -bound for Ogâ's camp, just you look in at the -shack and tell them I'm here all right'--do you -see, Da? He may be lamed up too much to take -the trail for a few days, but I believe that's about -the length of it! He only sent us the news. I -sort of <em class="italics">feel</em> that in my mind."</p> -<p class="pnext">"But what----"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I'm coming to that," Nell checked him. -"Here, put this against the partition, it's warmer -than the outside wall. I don't believe they'll -freeze so, Da, the worst of the winter is done." She -rested a minute, hands on hips, looking round -at her labours. Then she took up the tale of her -belief in a much lower voice as though she were -afraid of being overheard.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You know about all that money Dad has been -saving up to make you into a real good engineer, -don't you, Da? Well, it's hidden in this shack -and no one knows where it is but Dad and me. -It's a good lot, because Dad just kept the fur -money year after year, and we buy things from -the traders--you know. I rather wanted him -to take it all down to the Settlement, but he -wouldn't leave us here before Mother went, nor -since--so it just had to stay, you see what I mean. -Well, these men must know that. They know -Dad's been saving up, and they know the money -is somewhere. Now I believe their plan is to -get us and Robin out of the house, then they'll -come and hunt over every inch and steal it."</p> -<p class="pnext">"They'd get caught and----"</p> -<p class="pnext">"They can lay it on the Chippewas--Ogâ's -camp isn't so far off. He's been shifting round -this district quite a while. Don't you see, Da, -they can't do a thing if Dad is here--nor if you -and I and Robin are here. It's a trick to keep -us out of the shack."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell's cheeks were scarlet with the energy of -her whispered story. When she reached the end -of it they paled again.</p> -<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">That's</em> how I seem to see it," she concluded, -"and I'm so certain that I mean to clear out -with all that money and take it to Fort St. Louis. -I want to get twenty-four hours' start of Jan -Stenson. I rather hope he may think we've got -so scared about Dad that we've gone ahead down -east to Abbitibbi."</p> -<p class="pnext">"What about your trail?" suggested David, -fervent interest in every line of his face. He was -beginning to understand the amazing plan and -the full danger that was driving Nell into it.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I believe the snow will help us. It will cover -the trail."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Great snakes! Now I see why you were -looking out for snow! But, Nell, if we stay here -till Dad comes can't we guard the money? It's -a jolly big thing taking the trail to Fort Louis. -Can't we stick it out here?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell shook her head and her eyes wavered a -little from her brother's eager gaze.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I don't think they'd stop short of--well--real -wickedness, Da, if they couldn't get the money by -a trick. You must remember they've got Dad as a -kind of hostage, and they could say, 'If you don't -hand over that cash it'll be all the worse for him,' -don't you see? Of course, it would be a risk for -them, in the end. But men like that chance risks. -They could get away up north--or to the States. -There's room--why, thousands of miles every -way. Ten to one they mightn't be caught."</p> -<p class="pnext">David realised the position entirely. He was -full of sense. Moreover, he had been Nell's -companion ever since he could walk and talk, -and her common sense was notable. He understood, -but said no more, for what was the good of -talking? their business now was to act.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I know exactly what Dad would wish us to -do," went on Nell, "clear off with that money. -Look how he's worked to get it, because you -must be properly educated if you are to get to -the top in engineering. The only thing that -bothered me for a bit was, if they'd do anything -to him, supposing they understand we've gone -off like that. I thought and thought, and then -I saw they certainly would not, because what -would be the sense of risking prison for nothing -at all! They'll try and catch us right enough, -and make off with the money."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, you think they'll come after us, do -you?" said David, stopping short in his silent -by-play of ragging the black dog.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Rather!" agreed Nell firmly.</p> -<p class="pnext">David's mouth widened into a grin.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do you hear that, Robin?" he said cheerfully. -"Then the sooner we jolly well hop it -the better, for we've a long, long way to Tipperary."</p> -<p class="pnext">For hours the brother and sister worked, until -indeed David was so sleepy that Nell forced him -to undress and roll up in his bunk, where in one -minute he was soundly unconscious. That was -at one o'clock in the morning, when her neat -arrangements were nearly completed.</p> -<p class="pnext">They were to take the hand sled, to be pulled -by Robin and David, and pushed by herself. -As a rule, a man who pulls--when there is no -dog team--passes a rope over his shoulder and -holds the end in his hands, then he drags, bending -forward. It is fearfully hard work and slow, too. -Nell's inventive mind planned a kind of harness -for David, who would go first, "breaking trail" -with his snowshoes for the feet of the dog who -would be nearest the sled. She would go behind -the first part of the way, because of the track -towards the stream. It would be necessary to -hold back the little loaded sled with strength -and judgment. Afterwards, if breaking trail -proved too hard for David, she would pull and -he should push at the back.</p> -<p class="pnext">It will be understood that Nell intended to -save the most valuable of the skins as well as -the money. Fortunately these were, as a rule, -the smaller ones--marten, sable, mink, and -beaver. She made close packages of these pelts -and fastened them on the sled, together with a -frying-pan, a billy-can for making tea, a small, -sharp axe, and their two sleeping bags, double -skins with the fur inwards. For food she took -as little as she thought safe--for a reason to be -explained presently--and nothing cumbersome--for -instance, no flour--only dried beans, bacon, -tea, and the compressed meat, called pemmican, -which is not very nice, but very nourishing, as -it is pressed into little bags and a very little -contains a lot of meat.</p> -<p class="pnext">She took some tobacco as a precaution, -supposing they should come across Indians and -want to give a present, and she took flint and -steel as well as matches, in case the latter got -damp by any accident.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lastly she strapped in place her great treasure, -a small Winchester repeating rifle that her father -had given her and taught her to shoot with, and -ammunition. She had told David she wasn't -going to leave it behind to be possibly stolen, but -her intention was to use it for the defence of -that precious money if need be. Besides the -little rifle, both she and David carried automatic -pistols; long and careful practice had made -them good shots--it is necessary to know how -to protect oneself in a wild country.</p> -<p class="pnext">As Nell sat by the stove making harness from -strips of hide she thought a good deal about the -money and how she was to hide it. Very little -of it was gold. Nearly all was in dollar bills. -She passed in review a dozen hiding-places, but -dismissed one after another, finally deciding that -the only safe place would be upon her own body. -Of course, she realised that if she were caught -that would be suspected, but they must be put -somewhere and she could defend herself. There -was one plan that kept on coming back into her -mind. That was to hide the money in the log -house. Leave it behind carefully concealed, and -lead the hunters off on a false trail. She thought -of all the places in which it could be put and could -not help knowing that any place inside the log -house would be bound to be discovered.</p> -<p class="pnext">At the present time the money was laid in a -recess under the floor, which was made of logs, -more or less flattened on the top. The hunters -could, if they wanted, try everyone of these -boards in a fairly short time. They could search -the berths, empty out the potato sacks--Nell -sincerely hoped they wouldn't because of the -potatoes! The only real hiding-place would be -a hole in the ground outside the house, but how -could she do that when the ground was covered -with snow? You can't put back snow without -leaving traces of your work, and besides the -ground was hard as wood.</p> -<p class="pnext">The more she went over these things in her -mind, the more definitely she saw that she must -carry the money.</p> -<p class="pnext">"They'll come and find we are gone," -murmured Nell, ticking off the events with one -finger on the spread out fingers of her other -hand, "or <em class="italics">he</em> will, anyway. He'll think I'm -scared about Dad and have gone on ahead--I'll -fasten up a paper saying, 'Gone on,' that'll -be true, anyway." Her mouth twisted into a -smile. "I'll fasten up the paper on the door, -<em class="italics">outside</em>. Then, he'll break it open most likely, -and hunt over every inch of the place. Then, -he'll fix up that I've got the money on me. Then, -he'll sprint off to Abbitibbi and get there in one -day. Then, he'll find we never came and both -of them will make out to follow. Two men -travelling light can go very fast. They'll just -carry a pack--but they'll come back here to get -on to our trail like enough, sure to."</p> -<p class="pnext">She had used up all her fingers, and the busy -hands lay in her lap as she thought it all over. -There was a shadow over her keen eyes, for she -could not hide from herself that the chance was -rather a poor one. Indeed, were it not for the -two days and more of start there would not be -much chance at all.</p> -<p class="pnext">Two trappers, the hardiest, toughest men on -the Continent, used to miles of travel at great -speed, travelling light, and following after a big -fortune in dollar bills to be had for the taking, -were bound to overtake herself and David and -the sled! They would not go half as fast, and -they must rest--for David's sake. After all, he -was only twelve, and no boy of twelve, however -strong, can outlast a tough man in his prime.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was the start she was counting on, and the -fact that the men would make so sure of catching -them that they might not put out full effort. -These trappers would do the distance in four -days, going fast--at least, they often did when in -haste--while she and David would take eight -days. It was not a cheering calculation, -but--she was looking at chances, as has been said -before. Possibly snow, and a lost trail. Lastly, -the farther they two went the more likely would -they be to hap on "folk." On the Moose River -there were many locations. Life would be -stirring. She might strike friends and human -dwellings.</p> -<p class="pnext">Certainly, then, she must carry the money.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="the-howl-of-the-wolf">CHAPTER IV</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE HOWL OF THE WOLF</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Presently Nell stood up and stretched, -yawning a little, for she was sleepy. She -looked round on her work and knew that all was -completed except--the one thing. By a sort of -instinct she stood quite still listening. There was -no sound, but the crackle of wood in the stove and -the sighing of wind round the house. She was -glad of that crackling, it had a friendly feeling.</p> -<p class="pnext">Having satisfied herself that all was safe, and -the big bolts shot home into the staples, she -took down a pick that they often used for breaking -the hard ground, and then dragged back the big -black bearskin spread on the floor by the stove. -Just as it was rolled up she started -nervously--someone moving! She had forgotten Robin, -who had followed David into the small room at -the end, and now--perhaps hearing strange -movements on her part--came back to see what -was happening. He walked across in a dignified -manner, sat down on his haunches at the edge of -the nearest rug, and then, turning his head -slowly, gazed at the door.</p> -<p class="pnext">Poor Nell, rather burdened by the weight of -these events, felt a glow of affection towards the -wise dog. She had not remembered him oddly -enough for quite a long while, except as a little -horse for the sled. Now as she looked over at him -she knew she had a partner of value. The job -seemed much less formidable, and she fixed the -sharp point of the pick between the floor boards -with a much lighter heart. She knew exactly -where the place was, her father had shown her -the secret of the hiding-place, one piece fitting -over another so neatly and the rough bark hiding -joins. A person who did not know would have -to get the whole line up on the chance of finding -one loose one.</p> -<p class="pnext">There was the money, tied up in packets -and stowed in two bags made of soft deerskin. -Nell took it out, and heartily wished there was -less of it! It was not heavy, of course, because -it was paper. Also, from time to time her father -had changed a parcel of small bills for one larger -one, so there was not nearly as much as might have -been supposed to represent so many years' savings.</p> -<p class="pnext">Before going to work on the hiding part of the -business, the girl put back the log, knocked it -firmly into place and put the bearskin over it. -Then she gathered up the two bags, and stood -holding them thoughtfully as her fingers ran over -the bulk and shape of the paper.</p> -<p class="pnext">At that moment her attention was drawn to -Robin by his action. He moved slowly over to -the door, and with drooping head blew sniffing -breath along the lower part of it. He made no -sound, but the hackles on his neck rose stiffly, and -the snow squeezing in under the door was blown -out by his breath.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, from the forest came the far-off howl of -a husky dog--or a wolf.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell knew that the huskies in an Indian camp -will howl in the night for hours. All of them -together, too. The most mournful and tragic -sound, though they are not unhappy. In the -very coldest weather they will bury themselves -in the snow--especially when they are on the -Long Trail--bury themselves entirely and so -sleep warm. But in the camps they will wander -round about and in and out, fighting with each -other and howling in chorus as their ancestors -the wolves must have done in far-away days -when all this great snow country was wild as -the Barren Lands up in the north near the Circle.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell listened, startled. Why should a husky dog -be away out there by itself? It was so unlikely -that she settled this must be a lone wolf. But why -did it howl? They seldom did that unless they -were in full cry, a pack of them on the track of a -deer. Also wolves were not very plentiful about -this part; though, of course, they might come -when driven by hunger--ravenous, and savage.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, it doesn't matter," thought the girl, -and she spoke to Robin gently. "Only a wolf, -old man. He won't interfere with us."</p> -<p class="pnext">Even as she stopped speaking, the wolf howled -again. This time it was nearer. Robin scratched -at the foot of the door and snuffed again heavily, -but he did not growl. That was reassuring, -because Nell knew he would have growled had -it been an enemy--but why didn't he growl at a -wolf? That seemed odd. Wolf or husky would -have been equally objectionable to Robin.</p> -<p class="pnext">These thoughts flashed through the girl's mind, -the while she pushed the leather bags under the -package of pelts, looked to the priming of her -little weapon, and pulled the hood of her parka -up to cover her head and face. Not only for -protection from cold did she do this, but for -disguise also in a way, because, as she was -dressed like a man in leather breeches with the -fur inwards and leather moccasins--or leggings -with boots to them--being so tall and strong she -would at once be mistaken for a man when the -parka tails fell round her face.</p> -<p class="pnext">All this took but a couple of minutes; Nell -always moved quickly. Then she grasped the -bolt, pushing Robin aside with her foot and -talking to him in a low voice.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We must have a look, eh, boy?" she said. -And at that instant the dreary howl came from -the back of the log house, close where the wood -was thickest and the hill rose steeply.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Queer," said Nell to the dog, "there's -something more in this than meets the eye--for -the matter of that, it doesn't meet the eye at all, -does it, Robin? Hope it won't wake Da; he'll -want to come out if he hears."</p> -<p class="pnext">But David slept; he was tired.</p> -<p class="pnext">The girl opened the door and slipped out into -the snow. She held Robin by the collar till such -time as it might be necessary to let him go, and -together they went to the end of the shack.</p> -<p class="pnext">No one to be seen. No sound but the wind -in the dry boughs above. Nell listened intently, -then she turned her head and looked back towards -the door; after all, it was open and she did not -like to go on round the house. Robin must go, -she would stop this side.</p> -<p class="pnext">As her hand loosed from his neck, the big -dog bayed once, a deep note, and disappeared -into the wood. Nell went back towards the door -her ears alert as any wild thing of the woods. -Also her eyes! In spite of the darkness, which was -thick and starless, the snow made a paler -background. On that it seemed to Nell that she saw -a moving shadow close to the house. Not tall. -Rather close to the ground. She sprang forward -swiftly, but the shadow was quicker; she saw it -reach the door and slip inside.</p> -<p class="pnext">The girl was not frightened, but she checked -speed and approached the door with extra -caution. She could not be sure whether this -weird shadow was an animal or a human being. -In the latter case the bolt might be shot and -herself shut out with David and the treasure -within! That would be awkward. She was -waiting for Robin, knowing that he would follow -that shadow with unerring certainty.</p> -<p class="pnext">Sure enough, as she crept up to the unclosed -door from her side, the black shape of the big -dog flashed into view from the other. He had -gone round the house with his muzzle to the -ground on the trail of the shadow. Straight into -the doorway he went before Nell could stop him. -With a spring she followed instantly.</p> -<p class="pnext">There was some light within, because the -glow from the stove was diffused, and a candle--Nell -made them herself out of deers' fat with a -cotton wick--was set on the table as she left -it. By this mild radiance she saw, standing on -the bearskin before the fire, a curious figure. -At least, it would have been curious to a -town-dweller, and wild, too.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was an Indian boy, slim, and active as a -goat, complete as one of the Braves--as the -men are called--from the feathers in his parka -to the beads on his moccasins. He took no -notice of Robin--it would have been beneath -the dignity of boy or man to show trace of fear -of anything--enemy, pain, or danger. But when -he saw Nell come in swiftly after the dog, he -flung out his right hand straight before him, -with the palm towards her. Nell instantly did -the same thing. This was a signal of peace and -friendship from him, and accepted by her.</p> -<p class="pnext">Seeing it was friendliness, then, Nell shut the -door, fastened it and then turned to this strange -intruder. Robin had seated himself on his haunches -in his own place and was looking gravely at the -two of them as though asking, "What next?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell knew enough of the Chippewa tongue to -make herself understood, and the boy, of course, -had caught some English from the trappers, but she -knew also that it was not etiquette to ask questions -of an Indian, however odd the circumstances, so -she began by offering him tea and food.</p> -<p class="pnext">"My brother's feet are weary," she said, "and -his throat is dry, for he has come a long way in -the dark. Let him sit down by the fire, and there -will be peace and friendship in this lodge."</p> -<p class="pnext">The boy, who was perhaps a little younger -than David, bore himself with the curious -reserve and caution of a full-grown man of his -tribe. He sat down on the bearskin and watched -her with the bead-like eyes of a squirrel--or a -musk rat. There was no malice in the eyes, only -intense curiosity, which must, of course, be -hidden, by all rules and habits of Indian "bucks."</p> -<p class="pnext">Women may be inquisitive, or surprised, but -men must not be. Nothing must upset their -dignity.</p> -<p class="pnext">He ate the fried meat and drank the tea that -she offered him, and Nell had a distinct -impression that he was hungry. When he had -finished he set his plate on the floor by his side -and spoke in his own language, and always in -the rather poetical phrasing of his people.</p> -<p class="pnext">"The meat is good and the heart of the -Lizard is now warm."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I am glad," said Nell, "the night is long and -dark, my brother the Lizard journeyed a long way."</p> -<p class="pnext">"That is so--but the Lizard is strong, and he -has no fear in the dark, because he is the son of -Ogâ (the Pickerel). He runs like Kee-way-din, -the North Wind, to carry a message to the -tall white sister with hair that flames."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell tried not to show too much anxiety, but -she realised that here was something really important.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I am glad," she said, "that the heart of my -brother the Lizard is right towards me. Ogâ is a -great chief, and one day his son will be as tall as -the pine trees, and as strong as the grey bear of -the Rocky Mountains."</p> -<p class="pnext">The jet black eyes of the boy glittered with -approval of this sentiment. He sat up rigidly, -expanding his chest with pride, then he answered:</p> -<p class="pnext">"The Lizard has a sister and her name is -Shines-in-the-Night; when the sun was warm -and the chickadee danced in the woods, the tall -white sister came to the camp of Ogâ. She looked -upon Shines-in-the-Night with the eyes of -kindness and gave to her a necklace of blue beads, -very beautiful and precious. From that time the -heart of Shines-in-the-Night was warm--whichever -way she looked she saw only the tall white -sister with hair that flames."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell nodded, remembering easily the Indian -girl with a paler skin than the others, to whom -she had talked when she went with her father -to buy some skins the previous spring. Also -she remembered the blue beads which she had -been wearing herself at the time.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Shines-in-the-Night spoke to the Lizard, -and said, 'Go to the lodge of my sister and tell -her that the trapper from Abbitibbi, with little -eyes that open only half-way, has a forked tongue. -His words are not true, and his heart is black.'"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Shines-in-the-Night is very wise," said Nell -in a low voice, "I know."</p> -<p class="pnext">The Lizard suddenly stood up on his feet.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Let the tall white sister take the trail," he -said, watching Nell with twinkling eyes, "then, -when Little Eyes comes to the white man's -lodge, there will be none to answer. My white -sister will be gone, swift as Ah-tek (the caribou), -and Moose-wa (the moose)."</p> -<p class="pnext">A sudden presentiment overwhelmed the girl.</p> -<p class="pnext">"When will the man with a forked tongue -come from the camp of Ogâ?" she asked.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He will come to-day--this day that is now awake."</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="little-eyes-has-a-forked-tongue">CHAPTER V</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">"LITTLE EYES HAS A FORKED TONGUE"</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">In the stillness that followed this answer to -her question Nell made a wild calculation -in her head. To-day! The boy must mean -to-morrow. She said so, eagerly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Little Eyes has a forked tongue," repeated -the Lizard, with emphasis. "He says one thing, -but his heart is false. He spoke to my father, -the Pickerel, and he said, 'Take money for these -pelts, and have all ready at the day dawn. Give -me food also, for I go on the home trail in the -morning.' Then Shines-in-the-Night said to -me, 'Run with the feet of Ah-tek to the white -man's lodge and carry this word from me to the -tall white sister, for the heart of Little Eyes is -not good towards her.'"</p> -<p class="pnext">"How does she know?" questioned Nell.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Lizard made a gesture with his expressive -brown hands.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It is clear to Shines-in-the-Night, as the face -of the Forest, or the tune of the River," he said.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well," said the girl, with a sort of desperate -firmness, "what must be, must be then. We -will go as soon as the day breaks. I will wake -my brother, we will eat and go."</p> -<p class="pnext">"That is well," agreed the Lizard evidently -satisfied, "the snow will hide the trail, and the -great black ninnymoosh (dog) will be your -friend." He looked at Robin with grave approval. -There was evidently a sympathy between them, -though the hound was not familiar.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell went over to a locker in which were kept -all sorts of small articles and loose oddments, -and extracted therefrom a strong clasp knife. -It was a good knife, but, more important still, it -was a showy knife. It possessed three blades of -different sizes, a corkscrew, and a spike, useful -for making holes or as a lever, for it was strong. -She gave it to the boy, being very careful indeed -not to suggest that she was offering payment.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Will my brother the Lizard take this from -my hand, in token that my heart is very good -towards him? My brother will some day be a -great chief and these little knives shall help him -to skin Mak-wa (the bear), after the gun has sent -him into the Afterland."</p> -<p class="pnext">The boy's eyes shone as he took this -unexpected treasure. It was a prize of immense -value to him, and one that would make him the -envy of every other boy for years. Nell was -turning over in her mind what on earth she -could send to Shines-in-the-Night--for she owed -the girl a great deal--her action had been so -clever and so swift, founded as it was almost -entirely on instinct. She did not possess the -things worn by other girls of her age; where no -shops are people do not accumulate small matters -of dress.</p> -<p class="pnext">Swiftly she went to her room and opened a -box. Turning over her few things she came upon -a Christmas card shaped like a little book with -a scented sachet inside. Just a very small -cushion of satin with a bunch of mignonette -painted on it, and a sweet smell of the same -flower. On the outside of the cover was a picture -of a pretty cottage and holly trees glittering with -snow. It was a Christmas card sent to Nell by -relations in a far-away land. She was fond of -it, but she understood well what it would mean -to the Chippewa girl, so she took it to the boy -and presented it in a ceremonious manner, a -special gift from herself to Shines-in-the-Night.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Lizard was greatly impressed. Of course, -he tried to conceal his wonder and admiration, -because a brave must never be surprised. He -hid it in his leather shirt, then he went, with -startling swiftness and perfectly noiseless, and -the girl found herself alone again faced by the -necessity of instant flight.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was three o'clock in the morning, and she -wanted to be off in the grey of daybreak.</p> -<p class="pnext">There was no time to make a careful disposition -of the "greenbacks," or dollar bills. She took -a broad strip of a pelt, cured soft as silk, tacked -the two packets to it with strong stitches of her -needle and thread, and fastened it round her -waist under her leather shirt. It was the only -way she could think of doing it quickly. Later -she might invent some new plan. But it all -depended on events.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then she woke David, who grunted rather -discontentedly, and then sat up in his blankets.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What's the good of getting up in the middle -of the night," he said; "we've done all the -things, and we aren't going till to-morrow."</p> -<p class="pnext">"We are going to-day, in about half an hour," -Nell told him; "something has happened."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I <em class="italics">say</em>--what, what's happened?" David -scrubbed his face with both hands to wake -himself, he was still rather unbelieving.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I'll tell you while we are having breakfast," -said Nell. "It's very queer and it isn't nice! -Things have been happening all night, and now -it's just about daybreak."</p> -<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">I say!</em>" exclaimed the boy again, "then -you haven't been to sleep! What a shame!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't think I could have gone to sleep -anyhow. I had such a horribly wideawake mind. -Never mind, we'll sleep to-night--let's -hope." She laughed and went away.</p> -<p class="pnext">Less than an hour later the little cavalcade -took the trail.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell left the house in order because she could -not find it possible to leave dirt and confusion. -She locked the door outside and put the big key -in her pocket. Then she nailed a square of paper -on the doorpost, using a stone to drive in the -nail. On the paper was printed:</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">GONE ON. E.L. (for Ellen Lindsay).</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"Will he believe that?" asked David, speaking -in a whisper, for the grey, thick chill of the -morning's dawn rather oppressed him, though -the flight did not. He thought the whole thing -a mighty spree.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Not till he's broken open the door," said -Nell dryly. "That is the time I'm counting on, -you see? He'll break in and hunt every corner of -the house for Dad's money. When he can't -find it he'll think I've gone on to Dad, at their -shack. I'm counting on <em class="italics">that</em>, too."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Jolly lot of counting, and not much really -certainty," commented David, making a face. -"How's he going to account for breaking the -door open and turning the place upside -down--I mean when Dad comes back?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh--he'll say the Chippewas must have -done it. It's pretty simple, because Indians do -break into shacks sometimes. That'll do for a -story if nothing comes of his plan--I mean if -he doesn't get hold of the money, anyhow. But -you must remember he's laying out to lift that -money off us somehow, and if he gets it they'll -just vamoose"--by which she meant--"make -themselves scarce"--"they won't stop to make -explanations."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well," said David as he strapped on his -snowshoes, "they won't get it."</p> -<p class="pnext">"No," agreed Nell, "they won't. But they'll -make a good try, because when people begin on -a nasty job they get kind of involved and <em class="italics">have</em> -to go on."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Best thing is not to begin," said her brother -in rather a sententious voice.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell showed her pretty teeth in a silent laugh.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come on," she whispered, as she fastened -the harness on her odd steeds. "Off we go, Da, -and God bless us all--Dad as well."</p> -<p class="pnext">The fall of the ground was steepish, but the -track was fairly beaten out, because winter and -summer it was a path to the stream below. The -distance was hardly more than half a mile, and -in summer Nell went up and down often for -water. In winter they went up and down almost -as often for fish, as they had got an ice-hole -trap in the stream, which was deepish, though -not very wide so early in its course, its source -being way up in the mountains at the back of the -log house.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell's plan was quite definite. She meant to -get on the "River" and follow its course to the -lake--about thirty miles, perhaps more--cross -the lake, get on to the ever-widening river and -go on at top speed till their river joined up with -the Moose, when they might hope to hit on human -habitations.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was a reasonable plan, but there was one -very serious danger--the possibility that "the -bottom might fall out of the trail," as the language -of the northlands puts it. In other words, that -the ice might break and go down-stream--one -moving mass, hundreds of miles in length, -cracking, heaving, and piling up on itself. That -happened every spring. The farther up north -you were the later it took place, of course. A few -days of sunshine, a milder feel in the wind, and -the springs in the hills would begin to trickle into -the streams, the streams into the rivers, and up -would rise the bursting ice on the swollen water.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now that was what Nell was dreading most of -all. A thaw would make the snow clog, too; -there was extra effort when the trail was heavy. -As they darted down the hill she sniffed the air -like a dog; the snowflakes drifting against her -face were rather large and wettish, not like the -biting ice powder that drove along in the winter.</p> -<p class="pnext">A thaw was coming, but she would do this -journey before it made the river road impassable.</p> -<p class="pnext">Down and down they went, Nell hanging -back her whole weight to prevent the sled slipping -on to Robin's heels. David kept to the outside -for the time, giving a hand to steady the load at -the worst places. There was nothing top heavy -or slack about the packing of the sled. They had -been trained to do it to perfection--canvas cover -lashed down at the sides as neatly as the mainsail -cover of a well-kept yacht.</p> -<p class="pnext">In ten minutes they had reached the stream -and stood firm upon the snow-covered ice. The -real journey was beginning.</p> -<p class="pnext">They stood still to take breath after the scramble -of that quick descent. Nell looked back at the -track. It was covered already with snow. She -felt a thrill of thankfulness that her hope was -fulfilled. The marks of the sled runners were -not quite gone in places--though they would be -soon--but the trail of the dog's feet, and the -digs made by the heel of the snowshoes when -the weight was thrown back so hard, were already -gone. The hard packing of the snow had helped -them, and now came fresh snow and blotted out -the trail.</p> -<p class="pnext">On either side of them the banks rose fairly -steep, and woods covered the banks. All the -world was still and grey, and under the spruce -firs the snow carpet lay smooth and untrodden-- -dead white with the black boles rising from it.</p> -<p class="pnext">Their road lay straight ahead by the frozen -stream, and the one thing that mattered was haste.</p> -<p class="pnext">David now took his place as leader. Robin -trotted behind him in the traces, muzzle to the -ground as he always ran, and Nell pushed at -the back. Both she and David wore the round-toed -snowshoes that most of the Indians use--not -the very long shape like a boat, worn by the -plainsmen, and the men who go on the long trail -over the vast snow expanses in the far north.</p> -<p class="pnext">These shoes are made of the green wood of the -tamarack, steamed to make it pliable--then the -loop can be bowed into the shape of the -snowshoe racket. This is bound in place by strips -of caribou skin rawhide soaked in warm water, -which also binds the ends together. When this -is done the shoe is hung up to dry slowly, -afterwards holes are made with the red-hot -cleaning rod of a rifle which is used for boring, -then webbing of caribou rawhide shrinks when -it is wet and thus tightens up the shoe when -other things would stretch.</p> -<p class="pnext">Both Nell and David were used to this form -of travelling and had long ceased to get the -cramps and aches that come to people at the -beginning.</p> -<p class="pnext">Silent as the falling snow down the river path -between the deathly stillness of the woods they -flew along.</p> -<p class="pnext">The journey had begun in earnest.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="green-eyes-in-the-darkness">CHAPTER VI</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">GREEN EYES IN THE DARKNESS</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">So their flight continued all day, with brief -rests for "changing horses," as it were. -About twelve o'clock they were very hungry, -and Nell decreed a short spell for dinner. They -seemed to have the whole world to themselves. -There was more brushwood and undergrowth in -the woods now, not only fir trees, but many other -sorts. More hiding ground for wild animals, -too--but that was not a serious danger till the -night should make them bold.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell unstrapped the little axe and looked -about for a dead sapling of a birch tree; when -she found it she bent it over double and split -the bend with a sharp blow of the axe. Inside -was white pith dry as powder; with this and -dead sticks they made a small, round, red-hot -fire, as the Indians do, first scraping a place bare -on the edge of the bank where it was reasonably -flat. Then they boiled tea in the billy-can, weak, -but hot, putting a little molasses sugar into it to -take off the bitterness. Some of this they gave -to Robin when it was cooler--he was very fond of -tea. For food they ate some pemmican and a -bit of Nell's bread. They had brought what they -could carry--which was not much, of course--then -they would rely chiefly on soaked beans.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We'll have bacon for supper," said Nell in -a comforting voice. It went to her heart, rather, -to see David eating the dried meat without a -word of complaint; it was not very tempting, -because, though nourishing, it was rather tasteless.</p> -<p class="pnext">Robin had dried fish. That is the main food -of dogs in the winter. Of course, when a deer is -shot, or rabbits and hares are trapped--or even -a fox--they get meat, but you cannot depend on -it in the snow time: these creatures get scarce, -because the hunting animals destroy them.</p> -<p class="pnext">Next time they camped it was late afternoon, -when the dusk was beginning to shadow the -silent forest. They were very tired. Not so -tired as an inexperienced pair would have been, -but certainly very tired and stiff--the muscles -of the legs suffered from these long hours of -snowshoe work. But neither of them said a word. -David would not have admitted it for the world, -and Nell was too thankful for the successful day's -journey to complain about aches.</p> -<p class="pnext">The night camp was a more serious affair than -the "dinner" one. First they scraped out a -wide place on the bank just below a high pitch of -rock. There was a good deal of rock about in -places which would mean rapids and waterfalls -presently, all sorts of inconveniences to stop the -pace of their journey. But in this position they -were glad of it, because it seemed to wall them -off from the lonely woods, also it made a shelter -from the chill wind that moaned through the spaces.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then they gathered dead wood. At least, -David did that while Nell unlashed the load and -got out the sleeping bags, the bacon and frying-pan, -and big, thick stockings to change into in -case their feet were damp--which always was the -case, and might mean frost-bite or, at least, -serious chill, unless attended to.</p> -<p class="pnext">They regularly walled themselves in from the -forest. On one side was the rock wall, on the -other the sled turned up on its side, and so -making rather a good barrier in between the -snow scraped up into a high fence, while the -fourth side was open to the river--their icy, -snow-covered road. Not every part of the banks -was convertible in this practical way. You -could go for long stretches and pass only masses -of brushwood and rocks overhanging the course -of the stream, but this place Nell's careful eye -singled out as just right for a night camp.</p> -<p class="pnext">First, after this barricading, came the fire and -collection of a fine heap of dead wood for the -night. Then supper--fried bacon, bread, and -tea; then the changing of foot-gear, and finally -the two crawled into their fur-lined bags, feet -foremost, and drew them up over their heads. -That is the only way to keep warm, because -otherwise the cold air is bound to creep in somewhere. -If you cover your head as well, you may feel a -bit stuffy, but you are not cold.</p> -<p class="pnext">Robin, who had no bushy tail to curl round -over his nose and toes as the husky dogs do, -came and made his bed between their two bags. -And then there was silence in the strange, lonely -camp, miles away from a human habitation. -The boughs overhead and the over-reaching -rock protected them from falling snow, but -every now and then a flake sizzled on to the fire. -The light of the burning wood cast a pink glow -on the snow wall of their barrier, and with all -the loneliness and cold there was a sense of -comfort and even security.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell had arranged the pile of fresh wood close -to her head so as to be within reach for -replenishing the fire. For a time she could not -sleep--in spite of the terribly long day just -passed and the sleepless night of work before -that. She could not throw off the feeling of -responsibility, or that liveliness of mind that -made her obliged to keep on following the doings -of Jan Stenson in her imagination. Had they -escaped him or would he follow?</p> -<p class="pnext">Twice she rose on her elbow and reached out -of her bag to throw handfuls of wood on the -fire, both times Robin raised his head to watch -her doings, and she saw the shine of the flame -light on his deep-set eyes. David was sound -asleep, jerking a little and making grunts and -distressful noises, as his hardworked muscles -reminded him of the day's labour.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then the girl fell asleep, too, deeply asleep; -and the camp was quite still but for the faint -crackle of wood as the fire died down.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was about midnight when Nell was roused -by a low growling from the hound. It must have -gone on for some time before the girl realised it, -because she was aware of it in her dreams after a -fashion. But she was so deeply asleep that waking -herself was like coming up out of a well, by slow -stages.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then she put her nose cautiously out of her -furry nest and gazed round. It was dark, except -for the faint paleness of the snow, for of course -the rock barricade made a blackness, and the -trees were fairly thick above. Of the fire -remained only a scatter of red sparks and white ashes.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell raised herself to a sitting posture, bag and -all, and stayed absolutely quiet, looking about -to realise what the trouble was, if any. She did -not attempt to put wood on the fire even. She -hardly breathed.</p> -<p class="pnext">From somewhere close, but not on the ground, -came a very slight crack, the crack of dead wood. -This was nothing, because the weight of snow -would break a twig any time, apart from the -movings of grey squirrels, chipmunks or other -furry things that made shelters in the hollows of -trunks. She was not afraid. Indeed, she firmly -believed that there was only one event that could -shake her peace of mind seriously, and that was -the knowledge that the trapper was really on -their trail.</p> -<p class="pnext">She was just going to lie down again when -something made her look up at the top of the rock -that shielded them on the side they had made -their beds. It might have been ten or twelve -feet--hardly more--and perpendicular, but a -broken surface mostly grown over with the coarse -grey tinted moss that deer eat in winter.</p> -<p class="pnext">At the top, directly above the sleeping-place, -shone two pale green lights. They were close -together, and terribly bright and evil. They -glared out of pitch darkness on the rock top, and -Nell felt a shock as she met fully the utter -malevolence of the stare. Like the eyes in a picture -that seem to follow the person who looks at them, -these eyes appeared to meet Nell's horrified -gaze, but a moment after she realised that they -were most likely watching something else. Then -she saw the something else, and that startled -her almost as much as the eyes.</p> -<p class="pnext">Attracted perhaps by the smell of food and -the warmth of the glowing embers, another -creature of the forest was peering cautiously -round the end of the upturned sled. Probably -it had been creeping about the silent camp for -some time, and hearing no sound ventured to -inspect farther.</p> -<p class="pnext">When Nell had moved to sit up, she had done -so with the ease and swift silence of any other -woodland dweller. Now she remained as still -as sleeping David, except that she shifted one -hand very, very gently on to Robin's head--as -a check; by the twitch of his forehead she <em class="italics">felt</em> -his eyes watching. So they stayed, frozen as it -were, while the searcher came round the end of -the sled and stood still.</p> -<p class="pnext">It looked very big against the snow, but the -girl knew how to allow for the dimness and the -uncertain jumps of light from the wood sparks. -She was not sure if it was an opossum, a fox, or a -big wild cat. Either of the two last would be -likely to be hunting at night. Then she saw as -it drew nearer that it was carrying some animal -in its jaws. It had been hunting in the river -bank close by and caught a rabbit, or perhaps a -musk-rat, and the warmth had attracted it into -the circle of the little camp. It was a cat. A -wild cat, of course, one of the great strong -specimens that the trappers called catamounts, -and quite possibly mate to the one that had bitten -Andrew Lindsay. It carried its prey with head -held rather high, as a household cat carries a -mouse, and it stepped with the same wonderfully -cautious delicacy, the big bushy tail drooping. -Body close to the ground it crawled forward, and -presently crouched, growling over its catch, as -a cat growls.</p> -<p class="pnext">Robin's growl had ceased when Nell touched -him. He simply watched in silence, having no -desire at all to tackle a wild cat in fair fight! -Unless he disabled the enemy at the first -onslaught he would get the worst of the battle most -likely, and in any case might lose his sight and -be torn in rags. He knew all about wild cats -and left them, and a few other unpleasant forest -people, severely alone.</p> -<p class="pnext">The girl was not afraid, for she had always -heard that a wild cat will never attack first unless -it is shut into a confined space or is caught in a -trap. Out in the woods it will run--as a rule.</p> -<p class="pnext">Crouching down, it began to eat the rabbit, -stopping every second and staring round with -ferocious menace for any enemy. Then it saw -the green eyes on the top of the rock, and shrank -into itself with a sort of spitting shriek. Robin -shifted his position and pressed close to his -mistress--the shriek was horrible, undoubtedly.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell became uneasy. She did not like those -terrible eyes on the rock top, but reasoned in -her own mind that the other animal--whatever -it was--was interested in the catamount, and -neither would interfere with her. Nevertheless, -her hand stole to her pistol pocket and she got -out the weapon, to be ready.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now the beast on the rock was hungry, as -forest creatures mostly are in the winter. It had -been attracted to the camp by the smell of bacon, -and probably been sitting up there for hours -with the intent patience of a wild thing. The -appearance of the cat had changed the attraction. -Here was a rabbit, in plain view, and the sight of -the other beast eating was too great a provocation.</p> -<p class="pnext">The pale green eyes seemed to send out flames -of rage, and a snarl came from the rock top that -was every bit as fiendish as the cat's shriek.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell knew pretty well that she had only to -throw a handful of sticks on to the smouldering -embers to drive both wild beasts into hiding. -But with curiosity was mixed a good deal of -excitement. She wanted to see what they would -do. They were taken up with one another, -anyhow, and when you live in the woods, the -doings of the creatures become as interesting as -very exciting books. Never had it come her way -to see a catamount defend its supper--or early -breakfast--from a lynx; she fully believed the -watcher on the rock top to be that, most savage, -perhaps, of all the cat tribe.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="a-midnight-battle">CHAPTER VII</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">A MIDNIGHT BATTLE</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">For perhaps three minutes the two creatures -spat and screamed at each other. David -awakened, uncovered his face cautiously and -gazed about with interest. Then he murmured:</p> -<p class="pnext">"I say, Nell, just look!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I know," her voice was equally low pitched.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What'll they do?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, run away. The cat won't fight the lynx."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Is it a lynx? Snakes, what a row! I say, -Nell, that cat yells like a slate pencil with a bit -of wire in it screaming down a slate. Doesn't it -make your teeth feel gritty?" he giggled.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hush," warned Nell.</p> -<p class="pnext">"They don't hear, they are jolly busy. Oh, I <em class="italics">say</em>!"</p> -<p class="pnext">This last "I say" was caused by a new movement -on the part of the lynx. It was very hungry, -and had no intention of letting that rabbit be -eaten by a mere wild cat if anything could be -gained by interfering! Evidently it ran or -jumped from the rock top to the snow barrier, -for the two malevolent green eyes suddenly -glared palely from the bank. Then Nell saw the -dark crouching shape run round on to the -upturned sled. She was sure now it was a lynx, -she could distinguish the heavy, powerful hind -legs and the bob tail, then in a moment, right -across the faint glow of the fire, the flat, wicked -face with the tufted ears laid back.</p> -<p class="pnext">But the great wild cat held on to the rabbit. -There was no time to eat, but it would not run, -as, of course, the lynx expected. They are terrible -creatures and will fight almost anything that -does fight in the forest. Their teeth, and the -knife-like talons on their powerful hind legs -make them dangerous everywhere. Nell wished -the cat would run and be done with it all. She -put out her hand to the wood pile, meaning to -throw some sticks on the fire that glowed dully -between them and these dangerous neighbours, -when David saw what she intended and urged -her not to.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't, Nell, it'll send them off with one -jump. Do let's see what they'll do!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"But, Da----"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, I know they are awful brutes, but we've -never had a chance of seeing a catamount stand -up to a lynx. Do wait!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell gave in. All the same, she was not sure -it was wise, and she kept a bunch of sticks in -her hand ready to beat on the smoulder of the fire -with them and so drive about a shower of sparks, -supposing the fighters became too unpleasant.</p> -<p class="pnext">Robin was uneasy, but he remained as before, -just watchful. Both Nell and David knew that -he would fight a wolf, but not a lynx--not if he -could possibly get out of it, anyway.</p> -<p class="pnext">The wild cat was drawn up into a hoop, -looking like a picture of a huge witch cat. It -was a picture, too, of rage indescribable, one -paw holding down the rabbit, one lifted, as it -screeched at the crouching lynx on the top of -the sled. Every tooth in its stretched, open -mouth was bare, and its ears lay flat and close. -The face of the lynx was like a wicked mask in -front of its hunched-up body.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, in a second the suspense was over, and -the noise that followed was like nothing Nell had -ever heard in all her years of forest life. The -silence of the woods seemed to be split and -shaken by the hideous yowls and screeches of the -furious beasts as they struggled for a mastery. -Most people have heard two cats fight. If that -can be imagined at least twenty times worse, and -in the profound stillness of winter night in a -snow-laden forest, that is what the girl and boy heard.</p> -<p class="pnext">The bodies of the two wild creatures rolled, -bounded, and spun in one raging ball. No one -could have told which was which.</p> -<p class="pnext">David scrambled to his feet, bag and all, and -leaned against the rock watching, too intent to -notice Nell's actions. She did what she had -wanted to do in the first place, threw a handful -of dried sticks on the twinkling red ashes. -Amongst the sticks were some dead birch -saplings. These burst into a flame almost on the -instant, and a rush of crackling light streamed -up into the air, making the tree boles look pink, -like the rosy tinted snow.</p> -<p class="pnext">In that same instant Nell saw that the cat was -uppermost, with teeth fastened in the face of the -lynx. He would not give way, but the lynx was -killing him by terrible strokes of those razor-like -claws which were lashing at the soft underpart -of the catamount's body.</p> -<p class="pnext">This she saw in a sort of instantaneous vision. -Then the leaping flame did its work. With one -spasmodic movement the mad beasts fell apart. -The lynx ran away, crouching close to the snow, -with a curious hunched movement of his strong -hind legs, and the great cat disappeared in two -bounds, leaving a trail of dark stains on the -snow. He was shockingly hurt.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, I say, why <em class="italics">did</em> you, Nell?" cried David.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wasn't going to have the catamount killed," -said his sister firmly. "I loathe lynxes. Their -faces are as wicked as demons. I believe they -are demons."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Cats are pretty well as bad. It was a catamount -that bit Dad, Stenson said."</p> -<p class="pnext">"It was in a trap," Nell excused the cat -briskly. "Of course they're savage, they are -wild animals, but I didn't want that lynx to -triumph. Who got the rabbit? It was the cat's -own rabbit."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Poor rabbit," said David.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then they both laughed. It was such a very -mad sort of scene, as Nell said.</p> -<p class="pnext">David walked round the fire cautiously and -found the rabbit. There it was, left on the -battered battlefield. He picked it up gingerly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"If we knew where the catamount was, we -might go to him and say, 'Here is your rabbit.' As -we don't, Robin had better have it. He won't -mind. He didn't get much supper. We've got -to make our food last."</p> -<p class="pnext">Robin did not seem to mind much, and so the -other two let him finish the poor cat's find, -while they divided a bit of Nell's bread between -them. It was cold. They were both rather -weary all over, but they laughed and neither one -nor the other confessed to that weariness, for -this was only the beginning of the trail.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell decreed just one more hour in their bags, -and then they must break camp and get off with -dawn. She got no more sleep herself, that -interlude had been too strenuous. She lay warm -in her fur bag thinking--thinking, as the dark -turned into grey. Then she got out of her bag -and started on the morning work, perhaps the -most miserable and difficult time in the twenty-four -hours of a day's trail. The stiffness had not -gone out of her tired muscles, her hands seemed -stupid with the bitter morning chill. But Nell -said never a word. She was leader, and it was -her job to keep the flag flying, whatever she felt -herself.</p> -<p class="pnext">Soon the fire was blazing and the billy-can -hung over it to boil water. Then she got out -her treat, the special secret she had planned for -the two first mornings. In the bag with the -foodstuffs and utensils she had hidden a tight-lidded -can of ready-made oatmeal porridge. There was -always a sack of the coarse kind at the log house, -and so Nell had boiled enough--or rather taken -what was boiling--it was always ready at home. -Only enough for two mornings, but even that -would be a help. "One wants breaking in by -degrees," thought poor Nell as her blue hands -stirred the porridge.</p> -<p class="pnext">David woke and saw it; what he said about -that surprise made things very cheerful. Later -on there grew a faint pinkness, low between the -trees. The snow had ceased to fall, and far away -the sun was rising on the white world. Nell did -not say so, because her principle always was -never to look for trouble, or to express dread of -a possible one, but it was a pity the snow had -ceased to fall. Moreover, either the shelter of -the wood made the air less bitter or it really was -warmer. And she did not want a thaw--not -yet. There was that long, long river road ahead, -and though the ice would remain thick, a thaw -would start the little streamlets in the hills, -thousands of small springs would trickle down -into the river bed, and that would set the water -swelling and lifting under the ice.</p> -<p class="pnext">There was the more need for hurry. That -was the way she looked at it. So breakfast was -eaten, the sled neatly packed, and the party on -the trail again before true daylight.</p> -<p class="pnext">The first thing they came across as they -turned into the river road was the dead body of -the catamount. Nell was sorry about it. The -great brindled beast was so torn and disfigured.</p> -<p class="pnext">"After all, it was his rabbit," she said again. -"I hate lynxes."</p> -<p class="pnext">"The lynx got an ugly one in the eye all the -same," suggested David. "It's not feeling very -lively this morning."</p> -<p class="pnext">So they left their first camp and sped away and -away again along the white road, eating up the -miles. Their spirits rose after the first effort, -because it seemed so easy. The stiffness wore -off and they seemed to grow stronger. The only -thing that worried Nell at all was the thaw. It -made the snow soft, so that the trail was heavy, -and every now and then they heard the tiny -trickle sound that meant water from somewhere.</p> -<p class="pnext">Again, supposing they were followed, the -trail was deep and obvious. Of course, if the -thaw continued the snow would go into a slush, -but at present the track lay horribly plain, long -ruts made by the sled runners and the print of -Robin's feet.</p> -<p class="pnext">However, there was no use lamenting what -could not be helped, but it made Nell more anxious -than she showed in her manner. They stopped -every now and then to change places, and made -the longer halt about twelve for dinner as before. -They were so hot with pulling that there was -not the least hankering after hot food, which was -a comfort, as the meal was made off pemmican -as before.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was late afternoon, and when they were -beginning to get tired--really tired, that the -first serious check came in the long hours of -swift progress.</p> -<p class="pnext">The thaw seemed to have ceased and an icy -wind got up, moaning dismally in the tree-tops. -The river, which had been always rather narrow, -widened out within a sort of gorge of rocks and -brushwood. The bed of it began to slope -slightly in a long series of what would be rapids -when the water was flowing, and then, on a -turn, they came to the rocky dip of a high waterfall. -Frozen it was still, of course. One mass of -ice and snow. Rather a terrible place in the -strange stillness of its hold-up. And everywhere -rocks--rocks and steep, difficult places blending -with the forest.</p> -<p class="pnext">"And <em class="italics">now</em> what next?" said David, looking about.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Let's look round first," his sister answered -cautiously.</p> -<p class="pnext">So they left the sled, and taking Robin they -made an examination of both sides of the fall. -This was a long business, but it ended in the -discovery that the river made a sharp loop here, -as well as a fall, and their best plan would be to -drag the sled through the wood--down the hill, -of course--cut across the loop, and pick up the -river again about a mile below.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was going to delay them some time, and -both of them were too well versed in scoutcraft -to think for a moment that it would confuse -the trail or shake off a pursuer, because what they -had done would be so obvious. However, it -could not be helped, and so Nell, keen to get it -over, decided to start on this overland bit at -once. David was willing enough, but they soon -found the business was a worse job than their -worst fears had reached.</p> -<p class="pnext">A yard or two at a time, and then it became a -matter of going far round some impossible -obstacle, cutting a way through impassable -undergrowth, or letting the sled down a rock -wall. And darkness was closing in.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="the-mysterious-camp-fire">CHAPTER VIII</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE MYSTERIOUS CAMP FIRE</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Nell decreed that the second night's camp -was to be here. They could not go over -such difficult ground in the dark, besides which -the only way to go was to unpack the sled and -carry the load down piecemeal.</p> -<p class="pnext">"So," explained Nell, "we may as well stop here -now, and instead of loading the sled to-morrow -morning we'll take the packs down on our backs -and then carry the sled. It'll be easiest in the end."</p> -<p class="pnext">David was entirely willing. In fact, any plan -would have pleased him that did not involve -going on just then! They set to vigorously to -clear a place this time. It was a case of axe -first, and then using their snowshoes to scrape -aside the snow and tangled mess of brushwood. -They were pretty well surrounded by rocky -hillocks and dense undergrowth, but Nell was -content. "We seem safe," she said.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, seeing David standing still, apparently -listening, she asked him what the matter was?</p> -<p class="pnext">"It's the frozen waterfall," said the boy. -"Queer it is how you miss the noise that ought -to be there. You feel as if the river was holding -its breath, just for a minute, and then it would -go--<em class="italics">crash</em>! Don't you remember what a row -it makes in the summer on the rocks--you can -hear it for miles. Nell, how many miles have -we come, do you think?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell thought thirty--in the two days. David -was disappointed, but the girl shook her head.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You've got to remember how the stream -winds about. That's the nuisance of it all. If -you could go to Moose River as the geese and -swans fly--well----"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Wish we could," said the boy, and then, -"never mind, we are jolly lucky to have got so -far. I expect we're pretty safe now, Nell, don't -you?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hope so," said the girl. She could not say -she believed so--yet.</p> -<p class="pnext">The camp was a success in that it was very -sheltered and cosy, but the funniest thing -happened to start with almost. The kit was -unpacked for cooking and easier conveyance in the -morning. Nell put the neat bundles of pelts in -place for pillows--rather a good idea. The two -had made a good meal of bacon, beans, and tea, -and were sitting very quietly in the warmth of -the fire changing their foot-gear and greasing -their weary feet. It was a moment of peace. -Robin raised his head and growled faintly in -his throat. He was lying on his side, all four -feet stretched to the fire and head close to Nell. -She laid her hand on his ears, and then looked -where his frowning eyes were gazing--something -was pushing through the brushwood towards -the camp circle.</p> -<p class="pnext">In a moment it appeared, and with it came a -curious dry, rattling sound.</p> -<p class="pnext">It strolled along grubbing a busy snout under -dead leaves and rubbish, a hedgehog--quite the -most independent of all the forest creatures, -because no other animal will attempt to interfere -with it or risk being shot by one of the deadly -spines of its queer armoured coat. Even a lynx -makes a wide circuit round a hedgehog, because -if he's angry and ejects a quill--or spine--and -that sticks, nothing the wounded beast can do -will get it out. The spine goes on working -itself in and in, and often causes blood poisoning, -apart from the horrible pain.</p> -<p class="pnext">Master Hedgehog trotted into the circle of -light entirely unashamed, having no reason to -fear any person. He was attracted, because the -snow was scraped away and a chance offered of -finding amongst the stuff underneath a few -grubs or beetles as food in these hungry days. -He routed about with his odd little pig-like -snout, taking no more notice of the campers -than he would have done of a bear, a wolf, or a -skunk. No one could touch him. Nell laid a -restraining hand on Robin, who was watching -intently, but there was no need, the black dog -knew all about hedgehogs.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently this very self-contained visitor trotted -away into the brushwood, rustling his spines as -he went. David laughed and said it was a pity -not to have shot the little pig.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We could have baked him in the ashes, Nell," -he added regretfully.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We mustn't fire shots unless we are forced," -she answered, "that would never do. Do you -remember the story Dad told us about that fox -that tried all ways to get a hedgehog in snow -time and couldn't? So he burrowed a tunnel -in the snow and came up under the hedgehog -and bit it underneath. Horribly clever, foxes are. -I rather love them, don't you, Da? They are -so clever."</p> -<p class="pnext">Everything seemed to promise a peaceful -night. The two got into their fur bags in peace -and quiet. The night was still, there was no -sound but the slipping of snow from branches, -as the weight shifted a little in the thaw.</p> -<p class="pnext">And then Nell found she could not sleep. She -had that kind of busy mind that seems straining -after sounds. The fact was she was anxious, -though she would not allow it. Her mind was -craving to get on, and on. She would have liked -to travel all night as well as all day, but had to -keep up a sort of pretence of ease and security -for fear of worrying David too much. He would -have taken it to heart, and the strain would have -been too great, joined to the hard day's pulling.</p> -<p class="pnext">Hour after hour the girl lay still, only moving -to keep the fire up. She would have given -anything to feel sleepy and to stop thinking. She -could not forget those precious leather bags that -she felt against her side; the presence of them -forced her to keep on thinking about the long -miles ahead before she could put them in safety.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently something else began to disturb her. -That queer feeling of certainty that someone is -near. She heard no special sound, yet the sense -of a presence grew and grew till the commonest -noises made her jump. When the faint grey of -dawn began to creep around the little camp, she -crawled out of her bag and stood up. Robin -sprang up too and shook himself, then he stretched -a very long stretch and yawned, looking at his -mistress in an interested way.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell took him by the ears and whispered to -him that he must stop and look after David. She -was going a very short way, but he must guard -the camp. Robin sank down against the boy's -side with a sigh. He wanted to go, but he knew -his duty. The girl looked to the priming of her -pistol, then she stole away alone, into the forest.</p> -<p class="pnext">She made a circle round the camp, and when -she came to her starting-point followed on again -in a still wider circle. After that the high rocks -forming the gates of the waterfall stopped a -complete circle. She turned and went back -outside her own track.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was difficult, because of the roughness, but -she persevered, to be rewarded, for quite suddenly -she came upon the ashes of a little camp fire. -Kneeling down she felt the patch, the ashes were -still warm.</p> -<p class="pnext">The place lay to the north-west of their own -camp--that was, on the back track behind them. -Whoever made that fire was following the sled -pullers most likely and was travelling light -himself, for there was no trace of sled runners. -Nell sought very anxiously for his trail both to -and from the fire, but it was purposely -confused--concealed in the shrewdest way. Just here and -there Nell saw obvious "spoor" of human -passage. Then it was gone.</p> -<p class="pnext">The fire was very small and round, showing the -camp of a "sour-dough," as an experienced -hand is called in the north. But no more could -she feel certain of. There was another very odd -thing. It did not appear that this traveller had -found the camp of the fugitives. He had stopped -for the night in this place, and presumably gone -on before the break of day.</p> -<p class="pnext">The girl comforted herself with this reflection. -It might be a trapper on his own business passing -from one district to another, but unconscious -of her and David. She would have liked to go -back along the river trail to look for his spoor, -but time was pressing seriously. As she went -"home" with flying feet she cogitated whether -it would be wise to tell David, and ended in -telling him. After all, they were doing the job -in partnership!</p> -<p class="pnext">She woke him from sound sleep when she got -in, and told him while the fire was burning up. -He said nothing for a few minutes. Then he -made a practical suggestion.</p> -<p class="pnext">"If we take Robin to that camp fire and start -him on the scent, he'll follow it up and be on -the man all right."</p> -<p class="pnext">"But," said Nell firmly, "we are running -away from the trapper. What's the sense of -going after him?"</p> -<p class="pnext">David began to laugh, and laughed so much in -a silent and suppressed manner that he rolled -over. Robin looked at them both with such a -puzzled gaze under his frowning forehead that -it made them both laugh the more. After that -they felt better, and decided to go ahead, thanking -God if the man had passed them and gone racing -on under a misapprehension. There was a lot -of heavy work to do in the portage of the sled -and packs, Nell knew they would not gain very -much in distance--the pursuer might, of course, -get on miles before them.</p> -<p class="pnext">Snowshoes were very little use at the present, -so they slung them on their backs in readiness, -and after breakfast made tracks for the lower -reach of the river, carrying the bundles of pelts. -The stream was winding and very rugged altogether. -The first falls were followed by another -wild and rocky gorge, where the water must race -furiously down in summer time. It was some -distance before the two could force a way down -to a place that looked like a new start, and plain -sailing, as it were, for the fresh road. But they -did come to it at last, and the snow was smooth -and spotless. No one had been before them, -certainly, on the river.</p> -<p class="pnext">They put the bundles in safety and went back. -The way back did not seem so far--it never does, -even in a land of roads. The camp was -untouched, and again they loaded themselves with -as much as they could carry. Finally they -returned for the sled and the sleeping bags. Then -Robin went with them. Up till then he had been -guarding the family property, much against his -will, but duty demanded the sacrifice of his -feelings.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, after a rest and a meal, they started again -on the untrodden road. Nor was it very easy going -on a fresh trail of softening snow. They made -themselves very hot, but they were hopeful and -contented, because Nell was sure they would -reach the lake that day, and somehow the lake -appeared to them a landmark--a great gain--a -sort of half-way house! It would not be half-way, -hardly a quarter of the way, but at any rate it -was a bad quarter, for the farther they went the -nearer they must come to friends and human -habitations.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was during this tough bit of the journey -that Nell told David about the post-house and -the cache, that is to say, the reason before hinted -why they had so little food with them. On the -other side of the lake which they must soon cross -was a small shack. Just one little room with a -rusty stove and a bunk or two. It had been set -up for the convenience of trappers in the coldest -time, and was used by any of them going east to -Moose River.</p> -<p class="pnext">Andrew Lindsay had told his daughter that -close to one angle of this hut he had made a -cache. That is to say, he had buried in a small -pit and covered over invisibly a certain amount -of canned food, with tea, tobacco, candles, -matches, and such little matters as knives, an -axe, and so on. A trapper learns by experience -that he may be left with nothing, so, like a -squirrel hiding nuts, he makes his cache for a -reserve store.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell was counting on this; moreover, it had -more than once occurred to her that, in case of -dangerous pursuit she might cache the money -she was carrying, but that would be decided by -circumstances.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="how-the-great-bull-fled-for-his-life">CHAPTER IX</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">HOW THE GREAT BULL FLED FOR HIS LIFE</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">All the afternoon they laboured on and on, -and by degrees two things came to pass. -The woods thinned, there were open spaces, -the banks grew lower and more open. They -were coming to the lake.</p> -<p class="pnext">The other obvious change was in the wind. -It had veered to the north and blew bitterly cold, -while fine particles of frozen snow began to -strike the travellers faster and faster. As it -grew dusk the air was freezing hard, and that -wind from the north was getting up.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, also in a moment, the white expanse -of the lake spread before their eyes--dim and -shadowy, lost in the distance.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell's heart sank a bit at that moment. It was -all so fearfully dreary and exposed. The forest -they had passed through seemed a friendly -shelter beside this! But it had to be faced. The -river passed through it and the journey must be -taken up again--away over there in the far-away -dimness--where the stream poured out, wider, -going east to join the Moose River.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I suppose," said Nell, looking round with -carefully assumed indifference, "we'd better -camp here. It's getting dark."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Not much shelter," David suggested. "Hope -it isn't going to work up a blizzard."</p> -<p class="pnext">His sister was sure it was late in the year for a -blizzard. She said that, but in her heart she -knew that April was an uncertain month always. -She stood looking and looking, while the blowing -fur tails hid the troubled expression of her face.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come along," she said at last, "round by the -north bank, we'll go--there," she pointed some -distance along to the left with her fur-mittened -hand.</p> -<p class="pnext">David asked why not straight across--it was -level and easier.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Is it because of the trail?" he asked. "The -snow will cover that. Just look how it's coming -down."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell said it was because of the river stream. -She was a little afraid of ice bridges, or holes -under the snow. The stream in the middle -would be swifter than the sides. You never -know how the surface freezes, or where the -strong stream begins to make its way beneath. -The girl thought of all that, because she had been -here with her father and he had shown her what -to beware of as the spring thaws approached. -This was important, while David's mention of -their trail was also a point. She decided that -they would not go on to the lake, at present. -They would follow a more difficult way around -the north side and make a camp when they had -put some distance between themselves and the -place where the river entered the lake.</p> -<p class="pnext">With this intention then they first did some -confusing work. They struck out straight ahead -over the snow; then, having gone some distance -came back on their own tracks to the starting-place, -took off their snowshoes and climbed the -bank, lifting the sled over obstacles. It was -strenuous work, but it could be done for a yard -or two, and all they wanted was to hide their -start. Having reached a bare stretch beyond -brushwood clumps, Nell went back to obliterate -the trail. In this she was helped by the wind, -which, blowing harder and harder in icy gusts, -whirled the snow round about in eddies, scattering -it afresh in finest powdery flakes.</p> -<p class="pnext">"All the better," said Nell, panting a little as -she climbed the slope again. "Now then, Da, -'on, on we go,' as our old spelling book -said--next thing is a camp. This blizzardy wind is -beastly, but it's helping us all the time."</p> -<p class="pnext">David agreed as he always did, bravely coming -up to the scratch at all times in his sister's steps. -All the same, he had never in his life felt -worse--that is to say, more exhausted and despondent. -The thought of having to set to again and make -a camp, and a fire, if it would burn, and then face -the night almost unprotected, was not cheering. -However, Nell was right about the blizzard; the -advantages made up for the misery.</p> -<p class="pnext">As long as they could they went along the north -shore of the lake itself, close to the bank. They -returned to it, because of the much easier going, -of course, after they had confused the trail by a -land tramp of perhaps half a mile. That was -awfully hard and could not have continued much -longer, as their strength was giving out owing to -the obstacles.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently, when it became increasingly difficult -to see, Nell pulled up at a place where the -shore formed some small protection, because the -land rose in a slope with trees on the higher -part. They could not camp on the ice here, so -they landed in a likely place, hopeful of shelter -from the snow-laden bushes, and began to make -what preparation they could.</p> -<p class="pnext">To tell the truth, even Nell could have cried at -that moment. But there is a great deal in being -responsible "boss" of anything! You can't let -yourself go if you have real grit, and she had plenty.</p> -<p class="pnext">They scraped and scraped at the snow till they -reached down to the frozen bank and made a -sort of barrier. A great deal of it blew back -again, but that had to be borne. Fortunately the -fire was kind enough to burn--the worst of the -storm had not come then--and they were able -to get a meal of hot tea and bacon. It made a -great difference. Then, protected in a small -measure by the upturned sled and the bundles, -the bushes, and the heaped up snow, they got -ready for "bed." At the last moment Nell did -rather a clever thing. She scraped the fire off -its first place lower down, making it up again -with a good bundle of wood. Then she and -David lay down in their bags on the hot, dried -ground where the fire had just been built. It -answered so well that they both fell asleep at -once in spite of the increasing storm.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell was very weary indeed. The burden was -a growing one, because she had had so little rest -in forty-eight hours of strenuous work. Therefore -a cry from David close to her ears seemed to -ring in her head for hours before she realised -that he was shaking her shoulder and calling to -her in rather an agitated voice, for him. Then -she was awake on the instant. Wide awake and -throwing sticks on the dying embers, for the one -thing necessary at that instant was obviously a fire.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It's <em class="italics">wolves</em>," David was saying. "But, Nell, -they stop up north as a rule, don't they? I say, -what a beastly row."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell was loading the little Winchester. She -heard the "beastly row" very clearly, but did -not show agitation.</p> -<p class="pnext">"They are after something," she said. "Don't -you remember once before when we heard them -at home Dad said they'll follow some animal -that is trying to escape for miles--a hundred -miles--any distance till it is exhausted. They -are so persistent when they are hungry, I expect -it's a deer, poor thing!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bucks are awfully clever at confusing their -own trails though," urged David, who hated to -think of wolves succeeding, "they'll jump thirty -feet sideways bang into bushes to throw those -beasts off the scent. I do think they are clever. -I say, Nell, there's one good thing!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"What?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why the wind. It's blowing hard from them -to us. That's why we hear them so plainly--don't -you see? If it was the other way they'd -get scent of us. Jolly thing they can't!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"It is," said Nell decidedly, inwardly praying -that the wolves would stay on the north side, but -that depended on which way the hunted creature fled.</p> -<p class="pnext">The two crouched low under the snow wall, -waiting and listening to those howls that had -roused David. It was a dreadful sound--the -howling of the wolf pack in full cry after its -flying prey. The weird shriek of it came down -the wind in gusts. Perhaps the horrible brutes -were at fault! Nell hoped so. David said so, -he was anxious to help the deer if that were -possible, but his sister preferred to remain -entirely apart! One does not want to get mixed -up with wolves on such a night.</p> -<p class="pnext">The noise of the howling grew louder, and Nell -threw a good armful of dead wood on the blaze -to rouse a high flame. She and David were -standing up gazing anxiously over their snow wall -up the slope of the shore, when suddenly they -received a shock that was very startling.</p> -<p class="pnext">Out of the driving whiteness of the blown snow -loomed a huge plunging shape. It was lurching -down the bank directly on to them--like a -nightmare in a very horrid dream--when -apparently it saw the fire, and checked. For a -moment the two in the camp were aware of -amazing antlers and a long distorted face, then -the creature swerved with a fine effort, bounded -aside with a loud blowing snort, and took to the -lake some yards beyond, higher up.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Did you see--did you see?" David was -shaking his sister's arm in excitement.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't, Da, I've got the rifle. Put more wood -on the fire, quick. Hark to the others!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Poor old chap, he's got a start," said the boy, -piling on wood and glancing back up the hill. -"I wish you could kill the lot, Nell."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell laughed in spite of everything.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I! Let's hope they won't notice us, if -they're hot on the old bull's trail."</p> -<p class="pnext">The weird howling drew nearer, till the bitter -blast of the north wind seemed full of it, and -then--sudden as the appearance of the desperate -bull moose--shadows flitted over the rise as -though they were part of the snowstorm.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell fully expected one or more of the wolves -to come over the barrier, though she knew the -fire would frighten them, but the pack, about -eight or ten at the outside, were running close -together on the hot scent of the big moose. -Perhaps the fire did scare them aside, as it had -scared him. The darkness swallowed them, and -the fierce long-drawn cry of the howl lessened as -the wind caught it. They were gone, over the lake.</p> -<p class="pnext">When Nell felt Robin's coat she noted that his -hackles were stiff and his throat quivering with -deep growls. Robin could put up with most of -the wild folk--after a fashion--but wolves made -him furious! All three of the party sat down -again close to the fire, and comforted themselves -with hot tea and dried meat.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Something happens every night," commented -David thoughtfully; "this was the queerest. -Who'd have thought of a bull moose down -here--and wolves!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"How can we tell how far they'd come," said -Nell. "He looked awfully done. Da, his -antlers were jolly fine--all of seven feet across. I -expect he was an old bull and that they singled -him out of the herd and kept him back from the -others--that's the way they do."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I do hope he got away," said the boy again.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell hoped so, too, but she didn't think it -likely. Wolves are fearfully persistent.</p> -<p class="pnext">After a bit they went back to bed and actually -slept till a faint, faint pink light spread over the -flatness of the lake.</p> -<p class="pnext">The wind was less keen, but it still blew the -snow about in eddies, and Nell was very eager -to be off while this help was on their side.</p> -<p class="pnext">She looked back towards the river and the far -woods. Nothing showed. They struck camp -very quickly indeed, for her hurry was infectious. -She felt unsafe out here in the open, for figures -show a long way upon clean snow.</p> -<p class="pnext">They kept to the edge more or less. Not quite -the edge, because there is always a good deal of -rotten ice under the banks, but within a little of -it. It was easier going, and of course Nell was -not quite sure where the river ran out of the -lake and onward. She longed desperately for that -fresh start on the river road. It would be -wonderful to have crossed the lake and be actually on -the straight track to Moose River.</p> -<p class="pnext">All day they drove on and on, stopping once -or twice in likely places on the banks for a rest -and food. This lake was not nearly so large as -the Abbitibbi Lake, or several others--it was -not so wide. Away over the snow they could see -the opposite--the southern--shore. But they -could not see the end. It was probably twenty-five -miles long from the entrance of the river at -the west, to its exit in the east, and that's a long, -long way even on snowshoes, when you are on -the trail with a sled, even a light sled.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="the-camp-on-the-wolf-s-tooth-rocks">CHAPTER X</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE CAMP ON THE WOLF'S TOOTH ROCKS</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">The dusk was falling again and the weary -travellers were looking eagerly for the -right sort of camping ground, when the most -startling thing happened.</p> -<p class="pnext">As the miles were covered a feeling of security -was beginning to grow. Why, they could not -have explained, except that they were naturally -hopeful, even when tired--which was a good -thing if you consider the strain to come still. -They did not complain of the biting wind, or of -the snow that continued to fall at intervals, -because it was a help towards safety in their -opinion. Certainly it was far more difficult to -distinguish objects.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell gave a joyful exclamation as the right kind -of place loomed just ahead of them--a wooded, -rocky arm stretching out into the lake. Had there -been water it would, of course, have been a -promontory; as it was it offered a screen and some -shelter. It was much less exposed and hardly -the place that a bull moose would gallop over or -wolves be found on. It was altogether promising.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Here we camp," said Nell, and David -dropped his harness, stretching his arms with a -sigh of relief.</p> -<p class="pnext">Leaving the sled they both climbed up the -steep and rocky bank, beating a way through -snow-covered juniper bushes on to the wooded -promontory. Above the lake and sheltered to a -great extent, the place seemed ideal to their -hopes. David began hacking a clear space with -quick strokes of the little axe--a woodman learns -that quick tentative stroke in the bitter north, -because in the frost his axe blade is liable to fly -into a thousand splinters like glass if used as it -would be in a warmer climate--a sort of brisk tap, -with caution. Nell went down again to the sled -to bring up necessaries, for it was plainly labour -lost to haul the sled up on to the promontory.</p> -<p class="pnext">In so doing her attention was drawn to the -dog Robin, who was not acting according to his -usual rule, which was to lie down and watch -while camp was made, waiting for his supper. -He moved restlessly about, nose to the ground, -this way and that, round, in and out, and presently -disappeared among the underwood.</p> -<p class="pnext">When Nell got up to the top again, laden with -sleeping bags, food and utensils, David drew her -attention to this.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Some animal," said Nell; "what a plague! -We must look out, Da, it might be a bear."</p> -<p class="pnext">David thought it couldn't be.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bears are still asleep," he said.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Not when thaws begin," Nell answered -decidedly, as she cherished the little flame in the -birch bark. "Just a breath of warmer wind and -the old things wake up. Dad says you can't -always count on them either, because they are so -hungry and there's nothing for them to eat--no -berries, no roots, no fish, because the streams -are not free, no nothing. I hope it isn't a bear. -Robin couldn't fight a bear."</p> -<p class="pnext">"We should have to make polite speeches to -it like the Red men do," said David. "Oh, -what's the use of bothering when ninety-nine-to-one -it's only a chipmunk."</p> -<p class="pnext">The fire burned up and a cosy glow danced on -the bushes that shielded the little open space. -The snow water began to bubble in the billy-can. -Nell was kneeling on the ground slicing -bacon into the pan when from the corner of her -eye she caught the movement of an alien shadow. -She sprang up with a swift movement in time to -see a shape melt backward into the underbrush.</p> -<p class="pnext">Drawing her revolver the girl was in pursuit -on the instant. David followed because she -went--he had seen nothing himself. Nell dived -ahead with the quick judgment of a woodswoman -in choosing her path, and brought up suddenly in -utter astonishment within a few yards of the fire.</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id1">Motionless before her stood a figure wrapped -in the usual Indian blanket, moccasins on the -feet, head and arms muffled in the blanket. The -only thing that moved was the curious roving -glance of the black eyes--absolutely black and -shining like a squirrel's.</p> -<p class="pnext">For an Indian she was pretty, her skin being -much lighter in shade than that of the average -Redskin girl. After the first shock of being -caught she smiled, showing most beautiful teeth.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Shines-in-the-Night," said Nell, speaking in -a mixture of Chippewa and English, "you are very -far from the camp of your people. Is it wise?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"It is wise," answered the girl, and her voice -was very low and quite musical. "My brother -the Lizard knows, and I also know, that the -trapper Little Eyes has a bad heart towards the -tall white sister. She has known only his forked -tongue. His heart is very black."</p> -<p class="pnext">"It is black," agreed Nell, "but we are not -afraid, because the trail is lost and Little Eyes -will try in vain to find it when he goes back to -the log house of our father."</p> -<p class="pnext">The Indian shook her head, her curious, -inscrutable eyes full of intelligence.</p> -<p class="pnext">"My sister is deceived. Little Eyes will not -return to the log house." She held up one hand -and touched three of the fingers of it with the -other hand. "One sun--Little Eyes leaves the -camp of my father the Pickerel and comes to the -log house. He sees a writing on the door, with -fire and powder he blows away the lock, and long -time he searches in the house of my sister----"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I <em class="italics">said</em> he would," muttered Nell to David aside.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Brute!" said the boy.</p> -<p class="pnext">Shines-in-the-Night glanced from one to the -other, then she went on:</p> -<p class="pnext">"My brother the Lizard has seen these things. -I have followed the trail of my sister, while the -Lizard went to the Abbitibbi River in the footsteps -of Little Eyes. I say that he will not return -to the log house. It is empty. He cannot find -that which he seeks. Little Eyes has a quick -mind, it darts like the head of a snake. He will -come across--see----"</p> -<p class="pnext">Suddenly she went down on one knee and made -a little plan with bits of stick for the rivers.</p> -<p class="pnext">In a flash Nell saw the danger. Finding that -the girl and boy had not gone to the shack at -Abbitibbi River, the trapper could start at once -on a long slanting line to the foot of the lake -on which they were now camping. He would -argue reasonably that they had followed the -course of their river, as the easiest trail, and must -cross the lake to follow on down to Moose River. -Therefore, the best--the most certain--place to -intercept them would be where the river left the -lake and went on again through the woods twenty -miles to the eastward. He would not take the -trouble to chivy them all over the lake, simply -because they were quite sure to leave it by the -frozen river road, and there, where it was -comparatively narrow, he was bound to find the trail.</p> -<p class="pnext">If he arrived before they did, he would wait, -knowing they had not passed. If they went by -first he would see the trail and follow close on -their heels.</p> -<p class="pnext">Either way it seemed as though he must catch them.</p> -<p class="pnext">Poor Nell, very tired, cold, and hungry, felt -this blow more than she would have done had -she been fresh. She looked at the bits of stick, -understanding well how the two rivers ran, side -by side, as it were, though so very many miles -apart, over a hundred miles.</p> -<p class="pnext">"But he can't do it in the time," said David. -He had been watching the plan also with -interested eyes. "Look at the miles he's had to go. -First from our shack across to Abbitibbi, then, -right away down to the base of the lake. Look at it, -Nell, he couldn't do it in the time. Four days!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell said nothing. She was remembering -vividly that one strong man alone on snowshoes, -travelling light, goes at least three times as fast -as they could at the best, with the sled, and the -handicap of inexperience on the long trail. -After all, David was but twelve, though he was -so big and strong, and that long day at the -waterfall rocks had been a set-back, while the trapper -was a very old hand and used to immense journeys -over the snow in the pursuit of his calling.</p> -<p class="pnext">Shines-in-the-Night stood up again, and made -an eloquent gesture of one arm towards the -distant southern shore of the lake.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We shall know," she said, "when the -Lizard comes across the snow. I said to him at -the ending of the sun on this finger"--she held -up her fourth finger--"the tall white sister will -rest and make camp on the rock that is like a -wolf's tooth. You shall come across and tell me, -and our hearts shall be like the heart of the fox -that is not deceived. And now let my sister eat -and rest, for who shall say how soon she must -take the trail?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, I say," ejaculated David, "I thought we -were in for a decent spell to-night." Then -glancing at Nell he pulled himself together and -added, "It's awfully jolly of Shines-in-the-Night -to take such a lot of trouble."</p> -<p class="pnext">"My sister's heart is very good towards us," -said Nell gently. "She is brave as the -cow-moose and kind as the wood-dove in summer. -It is well for us, and we will not forget. Let her -come and eat with us now, that when the Lizard -comes we may be strong, if there is a long trail -to go without sleep or rest."</p> -<p class="pnext">So it came to pass that in a few minutes the -three were resting at the camp fire, making a -good meal, and shortly after that David was -sound asleep. Then Nell, sleeping as she had -not done for many nights, because of the sense -of security given her by the presence of the -Redskin girl who sat by the fire wrapped in her -blanket, feeding the flame at intervals and -listening with the acuteness of sense that gave -her hearing and instinct like an animal.</p> -<p class="pnext">About midnight both the girl and the dog -raised their heads to listen, and two minutes -after they left the camp with movements -noiseless as a musk-rat and went down to the edge of -the lake. The Lizard came back up the bank -with them. He did not say he was exhausted, or -even tired, as a boy of any Western nation would -have done; it would have been quite beneath the -dignity of the son of a "brave" to make a -complaint. He ate the food his sister gave to -him, offering bits to Robin--the "ninnymoosh"--and -he answered the questions she asked him -in their own musical tongue, in low tones and -few words.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then Shines-in-the-Night shook Nell gently -by one shoulder, and the silent little camp was -roused to busy action all in a moment.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Lizard had brought rather staggering -news. So much so that Nell felt a sinking at the -heart. Her spirit rose to meet it directly after, -but that required some pluck.</p> -<p class="pnext">It appeared that the Indians were right. -Stenson had followed the plan they had -prophesied and was, even at that moment, camped -on the other shore of the lake, the southern shore -opposite. Nor was he alone. Another trapper -was with him, though, of course, the Lizard -could not tell his name.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then the boy said something to Shines-in-the-Night, -and she passed it on to Nell.</p> -<p class="pnext">"My brother the Lizard has seen the tall -white man--the father of my sister. He is not -sick, but he halts on one knee where the -catamount bit him. He cannot yet go on the long -trail. He is not troubled, because Little Eyes has -spoken to him with a forked tongue and told him -that my sister is well and content with a message."</p> -<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">Ah</em>," murmured David, with meaning, "just -what we said, Nell! Well, of all the stinkers! -But it's a jolly good thing that Dad's all right, -anyway."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell agreed vaguely. She was thinking of the -money tied round her waist! Whatever happened -she would save her father's earnings, his years -of work and labour, but certainly they were in -rather a tight corner. Most people would have -called it a hopeless one.</p> -<p class="pnext">She looked at Shines-in-the-Night, who was -two years older than herself and had all the -shrewd cunning and knowledge of the wild bred -in her by her Redskin forefathers. Nor did the -Indian girl fail at this crisis. All the time she -had been sitting by the fire while the white -wanderers slept, she had been thinking out a -plan, and it was formed in her mind, complete -and practical in every detail.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now she explained it.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="the-hunters">CHAPTER XI</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE HUNTERS</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">The southern shore of the lake was flat and -open. Down from far-distant hills the -land sloped to the water, and for miles there -were no trees.</p> -<p class="pnext">From the hills, then, came two men travelling -light, with just a bundle, each made up of a -sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days. -They came at a great pace on their long -snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and -then pressing down on the heel so that the great -torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow -almost as fast as a skate might on ice. They were -well used to this going, and not being impeded -by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep -them back.</p> -<p class="pnext">They came down to the shore about the hour -of dusk, lighted a very small fire of driftwood -from the river edge and boiled some tea in a -billy-can. After they had eaten some deer-meat they -began to smoke. Not till then did they speak -at all. They knew what they were there for and -neither had the least doubt that they would easily -catch the two children, relieve them of the money, -and make off with it.</p> -<p class="pnext">Stenson was the leader. The other was a big, -heavy, stupid man--Barry Jukes. They had -lived a hard life in the wilderness and had small -conscience about taking some hundreds of dollars -when the chance came their way. All the -trappers believed that Lindsay had a large sum -of money hidden in his shack. As long as he -could take care of it himself he was not -interfered with, but the accident of the catamount's -bite had put an idea into the quicker, more -cunning brain of Stenson--that was, to get the -girl out of the log house on that plea, and then -search it. To break in was a small matter, because -he could easily pretend entire ignorance, and the -blame would be laid at the door of some wandering -Redskins, who certainly did steal at times.</p> -<p class="pnext">He had made out the injury much worse than -it really was, of course, to work on Nell's fears. -He had come back much sooner than he said he -would in case she took it into her head to leave, -and she would surely have been caught at once -had it not been for the Lizard's information -that night. Because of that the two had given -him the slip, but he was not much disturbed really.</p> -<p class="pnext">He had proceeded to pick up their trail with -the skill of long practice, and followed it down -to the stream. They had a sled. That would -delay them, he knew. Nor did he much believe -in the powers of the two young Lindsays to keep -up on the long trail without failing.</p> -<p class="pnext">Therefore he coolly broke into the shack and -searched it thoroughly. He tried the log floor, -and presently found the joins in the wood. He -prised up the log, saw the empty hole and -understood what must have been hidden there. The -conclusion he drew was, either that Nell had -taken the money to her father at the Abbitibbi -hills, where his shack was, or she had gone away -with it down river. In either case he felt so -entirely certain of overtaking her that he stayed -at the log house to make a good meal, and fill -his pockets with potatoes, which were very -precious at the end of the winter when no green -food was available.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then he started away along the ridges to his -own distant shack, his plan being to make sure -whether or no the flying pair had gone that way. -They could go some distance by stream, leaving -it lower down, but the way he took was the -shortest and hardest. If they did not come -within a reasonable time he would cut across -to the lower end of the lake and look for their -trail there. He did not doubt he should find it.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now we know that he did not find the travellers -anywhere near the Abbitibbi, because they never -went that way. But he was right enough in his -calculation about the lake, and it was perhaps -curious that Nell had not thought of that -possibility. Had the brother and sister not been -delayed by the difficulties at the rapids and the -waterfall rocks they would have got ahead of -the pursuers and passed the outlet of the river -before they reached the lake. As it was, the two -parties were opposite each other, but luckily the -trappers did not know!</p> -<p class="pnext">Jukes grunted assents to the other man's -suggestions. It was all plain-sailing to him. -They would take the money from the girl and -decamp. Not return to their own shack, but -divide the loot equally between them and -disappear into the northern wilderness.</p> -<p class="pnext">One name was as good as another to such men. -They were sick of trapping and wanted money -for a mining outfit. The summer was coming and -all they had to do was to take the long trail up -into the North-West Territory and over to -Alaska. No one would ever find them, they -thought. Nor did they propose to harm the -girl if they could get the money without doing so, -because the police found men at the very ends of -the earth--when they really meant to.</p> -<p class="pnext">This was the position as they sat and smoked, -saying a few words now and then. Stenson had -explained his plan. Jukes made no objection. -At present there was nothing to do but sleep. -It was too dark to do any good looking for a -trail. They rolled themselves in their blankets -and slept soundly, for they had come many miles.</p> -<p class="pnext">They woke, of course, in the misty greyness -before dawn, and presently saw the sun come -up shedding a faint pink flush ahead. It was -warmer. There was a soft air from the south -and a glisten of wet on the snow. This did not -please the men, because it would make the trail -heavy, but it did not matter much, because the -same difficulty would handicap the two who -fled, especially as they were burdened by a sled. -Breakfast did not take long, and they were soon -ready to start.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then Jan Stenson thought of crossing the -lake straight across, to find out if the trail ran -down it from end to end as the course to the -river would lead. The two men launched -themselves on to the snowy surface, and went away -in a slanting direction towards the upper end. -They must cross right over to intercept the track, -if track there was. It was not so very far, -especially with smooth going, the lake being hardly -more than two miles broad, though it might be -twenty-five long.</p> -<p class="pnext">Three-quarters of the way across, Stenson -suddenly gave a hoarse chuckle of triumph.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh ho! So the quarry is on the trail!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Jukes looked, too. They both stood still, -gazing back along a very distinctly marked trail. -Without further remark they tracked it backward -for some little distance; it ran away over the -snow towards the beginning of the lake, as far -as they could see.</p> -<p class="pnext">Snowshoes first, not a man's size. Sled -runners, cutting rather deep because the snow was -softening. Then snowshoes again, heavier in -print.</p> -<p class="pnext">Stenson was triumphant. He was always proud -of his shrewdness and here was a case in point.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Was I right--haw?" he demanded, and -Jukes grunted assent. "Little Eyes" was -certainly quite right in his calculation.</p> -<p class="pnext">Having seen, then, that the trail ran from the -lake head and was making eastward, the thing -to be done was to follow it. Nothing could be -plainer. It had been made last night, or even -that morning early. Why, the racing pair could -be but a little way ahead, it would be child's -play to catch them! That was obvious.</p> -<p class="pnext">Jan Stenson was very pleased with himself. -He boasted about his own cleverness to Jukes -as they took up the trail and followed on down -the lake. For several miles they went and then -found the trail bore away towards the left, to the -northern shore. Still following on, they -presently came to the rocky promontory and found -here evidence of movements, finally of a dead -fire and a camp.</p> -<p class="pnext">Stenson announced that the pair had come -down from the head of the lake on the previous -evening and camped here. They must have -gone on this morning, probably about the same -time that the pursuers broke camp on the southern -shore.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was a hopeless position for the fugitives, -said Jan Stenson.</p> -<p class="pnext">After a very little while taken up in prospecting -around this place, the hunters took up the trail -again and followed at a steady, rapid pace.</p> -<p class="pnext">The northern shore began to grow more -wooded, and after a bit the end of the lake -came in view and a belt of trees, thick forest -again where the river left the lake and started on -its way to join the great wide stream of Moose -River a long way farther east.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was just about here that Jukes declared he -saw something on the snow, fleeing towards the -mouth of the river. Stenson had not quite such -good eyes, but he thought it likely enough there -was someone just ahead, so they increased their -efforts. The trail was now fresh and very -distinct. Two pair of snowshoes and the sled -runners. Because of the mildness in the air the -snow was soft. The sun shone over the dazzling -world everywhere, and the trees on the shore dripped.</p> -<p class="pnext">When the two men came to the river head there -was a sound of trickling water here and there, -and the edges of the snow at the banks were -mushy and rotten. Underneath was the force -of the stream within banks, not like the broad and -rather shallow lake. Before long the ice would -heave up as the water swelled, then it would -burst and go down river in a jumbled mass. The -course of the stream turned in a curve through -the forest and the trail was lost round this. On -pressed the two men, and when they had passed -this curve they saw before them a straight vista -of perhaps half a mile, for in that clear -atmosphere distance is shortened.</p> -<p class="pnext">At the far end of it were moving figures, a -little group going ahead at a good pace. -Considering the distance it was not easy to tell about -the persons in the group, but the low shape on -the snow was plainly a sled.</p> -<p class="pnext">On raced the two men, Stenson boasting still -more about his clever calculation. He was very -fond of boasting at all times. Jukes listened -stolidly; he wanted the money, that was his -point of view.</p> -<p class="pnext">In another ten minutes it became obvious that -there were two figures. A taller behind and a -short one in front, bending forward to pull as -hard as possible. The little sled ran smoothly -between, but it was hard going, because of the -soft trail. Stenson made out that Nell Lindsay -was pushing behind, and the boy in harness. -He had quite forgotten about the dog.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently they saw the girl pause and look -round. It seemed that she saw them and spoke -to the boy, who glanced round also. Then they -went on as before.</p> -<p class="pnext">Stenson shouted. He and Jukes were not -close enough to see the figures quite distinctly, -and he was not inclined to go farther on this trail. -It would be better to get the money--there was -no question whatever about the girl giving up -the money, she would see the necessity of that--and -start away northwards at once, this trail was -leading them in the wrong direction.</p> -<p class="pnext">After he had shouted several times the little -party in front drew up and stood still, waiting; -there was something in their attitudes that gave -Stenson his first "jolt," as he would have called a -shock of surprise. In five minutes it was more -than a "jolt," it was astonishment mixed with -exasperation.</p> -<p class="pnext">He and Jukes saw as soon as they came within -speaking distance, a Redskin girl, rather tall, -dressed in the usual winter dress of the Indians, -which was not very different from his own. -With her was a shortish boy, and between them -was a hand sled laden with pelts. That was all.</p> -<p class="pnext">The girl looked at him with the half shy, -inscrutable gaze of a Redskin girl. Vaguely he -remembered to have seen her, or someone like -her. He demanded her name and business.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Shines-in-the-Night, daughter of Ogâ the -Pickerel," she answered in her own tongue. "I -and my brother the Lizard carry pelts across to -New Brunswick House by the farther river."</p> -<p class="pnext">It was a deadlock! The trail, he questioned -her of the way she'd come, was from the upper -stream. It was perfectly simple, because the -Chippewas were camped in the forest beyond -Lindsay's log house. The trail was hers, then, -not Nell's! Stenson could have killed these two -in his fury, but he dared not; the Chippewa -Chief would have killed him in return.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="the-flight-continues">CHAPTER XII</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE FLIGHT CONTINUES</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">By this time it is understood what the plan -was that Shines-in-the-Night put before -Nell, when the Lizard brought news of the -pursuers' nearness.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was a wonderfully complete plan, because -it included the making of a trail anew from the -head of the lake and down the centre to the -outlet of the river. The shrewd mind of the -Redskin girl saw the necessity of this, because -Stenson would not have been satisfied with a -trail that began at the Wolf's Tooth Rocks. -He would, of course, want to know by what -track the fugitives reached it. The way they had -really come the afternoon before, close to the -bank, was partly obliterated by the thaw and -partly defaced by the Lizard, who went back -on it for some little distance till he had destroyed -the connection with the camp on the rock.</p> -<p class="pnext">At first Nell refused to agree, but Shines-in-the-Night -made it quite plain that she and the -Lizard would be in no danger.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Great Chief Ogâ the Pickerel," she said -impressively. "Once Little Eyes do him bad -turn never forgive. Him know that. All time Ogâ -finish Little Eyes. Police no matter at all then."</p> -<p class="pnext">It was true. Nell knew that the Red men -never forgive an injury and never forget a friend. -If Stenson had killed the girl, no length of time, -no number of years or miles of distance would -save him in the end from the vengeance of Ogâ.</p> -<p class="pnext">That made a great deal of difference. She could -not have agreed to the plan if she had believed -it would endanger the girl's life.</p> -<p class="pnext">So she and David accepted the generous offer -and one curious thing happened in connection -with this.</p> -<p class="pnext">When it was settled, she said:</p> -<p class="pnext">"You are very good to us, Shines-in-the-Night. -Your heart is very warm and kind. We have -not thanks enough to give you."</p> -<p class="pnext">"The tall white sister has given me a great -gift," answered the Indian; "it lies on my heart -and keeps it warm towards her. So that no -deed is too much for me."</p> -<p class="pnext">She put her hand within the leather shirt that -she wore under her blanket, and drew out, -almost reverently, the Christmas card that Nell -had sent her. A hole had been made at one -corner, and a deer's tendon, such as Indian -women sew with, was passed through the hole, -thus hanging the card round her neck. As she -brought it out, the faint, delicate scent from the -sachet pervaded the air and made Robin lift his -muzzle from his paws and wrinkle his nose with -little tentative sniffs.</p> -<p class="pnext">To Shines-in-the-Night this card was the -most wonderful and beautiful thing she had ever -seen. She believed it to be a miracle, too, a charm -of great power, and she knew that the possession -of it would give her a sort of status of honour -above the other girls and women of the Chippewas.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell knew the Indians, but even she was -surprised at the immense satisfaction this card had -given. Just at a critical moment she bound this -girl to her service with a bond almost unbreakable. -It was a strange thing.</p> -<p class="pnext">After that the action proceeded swiftly.</p> -<p class="pnext">The time being little beyond midnight they -had some hours before the camp on the south -shore would wake. Nell and David took a small -compact bundle each, simply the sleeping bag, -a billy-can, a little tea and pemmican, the object -being to travel as light as possible and cover as -much ground as they could in the shortest time. -The Indians gave Nell careful and distinct -directions about her journey. She was not to -touch on the lake, but to go along the north side -of it through the woods and cut across the bend -of the river on the land. In this way she was to -travel quite ten miles of the stream, but always -keeping in the woods. After that it would be -safe for her to take to the course of the ice, they -all thought, but it might depend on circumstances. -About that time, too, she would reach -the log house--the bunk house run up for -travellers, where Andrew Lindsay had made a -cache. Nell was depending rather on that for -enough food to keep on with. Haste being her -one object, it was not possible to set a wire for -a chance rabbit, and concealment being necessary, -they could not fire a gun unless absolutely -forced to do so in self-defence. A shot would -ring far in the silent snow-laden woods.</p> -<p class="pnext">So that was the plan mapped out by the two -girls, and very soon after that they parted, Nell -and David going off east through the scattered -woods of the north shore, the Lizard and his -sister going back west, also on the shore, and -dragging the sled, until they arrived at a place -from which it seemed safe to take to the lake -again and come down the centre of it as described, -making the trail that was to mislead the pursuers.</p> -<p class="pnext">All those long hours till the grey of morning -began to make the trees ghostlike, brother and -sister went on and on with Robin. At first they -felt the pleasure of going ahead without the drag -of the sled, but about six o'clock they were very -tired, and Nell decreed a short rest, tea, and a -feed. They made a small round fire with great -care, boiled some snow water for tea, ate their -dried meat and gave Robin a bit of the dried fish -they carried for him. No bacon. They must -wait for the cache.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, rested somewhat, they went on again. -They had reached the river outlet and were -cutting across that part round which its course -wound. This was about the time when Stenson -was coming down the lake hot on the trail of the -Indians, who were certainly ten miles behind -Nell, if not more.</p> -<p class="pnext">David was beginning to think it was all right -again. He depended greatly on the Indian -girl's ruse, but Nell was very anxious. She could -feel that money at her waist every time she -moved, and the responsibility was a burden. -She had taken upon herself to remove it from the -hiding-place, and she had a feeling that she owed -it to her father now to carry her plan through, -whatever it cost.</p> -<p class="pnext">With this dread upon her she put off taking to -the river as long as they could get on by land. -But it was harder, slower going--the shoes caught -in snags and roots unless they moved with -greatest care, and a long swing was difficult.</p> -<p class="pnext">About noon, and after another rest, Nell -declared she'd risk it. They unstrapped their -snowshoes, broke a way through the undergrowth -and found the river again--wider, snow-covered -for the most part, smooth going.</p> -<p class="pnext">They had not come all this way without seeing -a forest creature or two--a rabbit, a mink that -was chasing it just as stoats do in England. The -rabbit escaped, thanks to Robin's interference, -but the mink did also.</p> -<p class="pnext">The climb down the bank brought them up -against the land entrance of a musk-rat's nest, -a big heap of sticks and rubbish that looked so -careless, but was so carefully made. They knew -that down away under the ice was a water entrance -also, and between the two entrances a nest most -beautifully safe and dry which the mink was -always trying to get at.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell and David knew of these things and had -often seen them, but to-day was no time to wait -and watch. Once on the water--or rather on -the snow-covered ice--they strapped on their -shoes and went on again at a fine pace, -considering the thaw, which is most certainly a -drawback if you want to race.</p> -<p class="pnext">They had counted on reaching the bunk house -that night, but they did not reach it, and they -were faced by the inevitable night in the snow -with no food but the tea and dwindling pemmican. -It was not quite so cold, but that was small gain -when the wetness was taken into account. -Dripping trees and wet snow!</p> -<p class="pnext">They would not make a sound of complaint, -either of them, though they were dizzy with -weariness and stiff in every muscle. They -scraped a tiny camp free of snow, made a fire -with bits of stick and dead leaves, boiled their -water almost mechanically, and after eating all -they dared of the food remaining, crawled into -their bags and were asleep in a few seconds, -the two, with the dog between them. So -soundly they slept that no stir among the wild -creatures on the banks roused them, nor did the -faint ceaseless trickle of tiny streams running -into the river.</p> -<p class="pnext">The hardest part was waking in the morning -to start on again in the raw chill of the thaw at -dawn. No sun, of course. Grey mist, shadows, -and slush!</p> -<p class="pnext">"Never mind," said Nell, answering their -thoughts, because neither had spoken, "we <em class="italics">must</em> -reach the bunk house and the cache to-day. -Then we'll have a feast and a rest, and a fire in the -stove; they always keep the fire laid--we shall -have to do it for the next that comes along when -we go."</p> -<p class="pnext">David seized on Robin in a sort of paroxysm of -satisfaction. They rolled about on the ground -together, and presently got up very cheerful.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Da, you're a brick," said Nell, measuring -out tea. "I <em class="italics">say</em>, we are short. That's the last. -And only this to eat! Pity we can't eat Rob's -fish, but we can't; it's like wood."</p> -<p class="pnext">They made fun of the poor meal, the slush, the -stiffness, and the long miles ahead.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come on," said the girl, and they had started -before the sun was up.</p> -<p class="pnext">All the morning they kept on, and then Nell -began to recognise certain landmarks her father -had spoken of at different times. The first of -these was the narrowing of the river into a sort -of gorge, the sides of which were steep, rocky, -and wooded. David said it was a good thing -they had no sled; that was the "bright side" -certainly. But they had themselves, and it meant -a landing, a severe climb and a struggle through -a regular maze of undergrowth. They had to -use the little axe, which they had held to as a -necessity and carried strapped to David's back. -Bad as it was, landing was the only way, because -the river went down the gorge in rapids, and the -strong stream had begun to force tiny rivulets -over the snow.</p> -<p class="pnext">About the middle of the afternoon, when -David was very silent and Nell had taken to -describing the bunk house, which she declared -was close by, Robin left them. He had become -restless a little while back, following up some -trail with persistence, and now he disappeared -altogether.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Never mind," said Nell. It was rather a -favourite expression of hers, always meaning -really "never say die!" "He can't possibly -lose us, even if we lose him."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I say, Nell, look at the big rocks and the -jolly hiding holes up there." David waved a hand -towards a sort of fortress above them. "If the -bunk house turns out to be a frost we'd better -come back here and hide. It would be jolly safe."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Start housekeeping in a cave! All right, but -what shall we eat? Robin? Or the foxes that -live up there? We haven't even got a snare."</p> -<p class="pnext">As they talked they came into a sort of rough -track leading from the heights down to the river. -The wood was less dense, and Nell suddenly -checked.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Da! Oh, Da! See--we are all right! I'd -give three cheers only we'd better not! <em class="italics">There's</em> -the bunk house, up on the bank above the -stream in that bit of open--see!"</p> -<p class="pnext">They both stood still, gazing their fill as it were. -This meant rest, warmth, a safe night, food, and -in the minds of both a feeling that the worst was -over.</p> -<p class="pnext">David made extravagant signs of joy--silent -signs. Nell's face, which had been looking very -pinched and years older than the fifteen she -counted, seemed to plump out suddenly into -roundness. The eyes of the two met with a -sort of mutual congratulation, then their attention -was distracted by a growl, and both looked to -see the meaning of the sound.</p> -<p class="pnext">Not far from them and on higher ground among -the rocks stood a black bear. His little red eyes -were fixed on them with a sort of malevolent -irritation. He was very thin, a mere loose hide -over bones, and the two knew that he had waked -from his winter sleep in the caves and come out, -desperately hungry, to find nothing to eat, and -rather a comfortless world. He was annoyed.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="a-race-for-life">CHAPTER XIII</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">A RACE FOR LIFE</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Now any hunter of the great North-West -Territory will tell you that the only -animal, perhaps, that no man can ever count on -is a bear.</p> -<p class="pnext">The big white polar bear and the grizzly of -the Rocky Mountains are always savage, most -horribly dangerous. But the black and brown -bears will seldom interfere with man; never, -unless wounded, or with cubs, when there is -plenty of food about. The safest time for bears -is perhaps in the autumn, when their cubs are -growing up and they have quantities of berries, -honey, and such food to eat.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now Nell knew all this very well. She and -David had often seen bears. She had no fear of -them, at the same time uncertainty remained. -And it was a bad time of year!</p> -<p class="pnext">This particular bear had been asleep in the -cave above. He had waked up with the ice still -covering the fish, and small animals mostly slain -by the foxes. He was probably turning over -dead wood logs to hunt for beetles and slugs, -but that is a poor meal to go on, after about five -months' fast, and he was in a very irritable mood.</p> -<p class="pnext">Slowly he raised himself on his haunches and -sat up. Nell would have liked to stand still and -watch him, but felt it would not do. She moved -away, quicker and quicker, but trying to do it -in an unaggressive way.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Good thing we haven't got the shoes on," -she said to David, making talk, as it were, with -one eye on the big black bear.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why?" asked the boy, shifting his into an -easier position where they were slung across his -shoulder.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Because I think we shall have to run for it."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh no!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh yes," said Nell; "he's in a bad temper. -What a nuisance!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Can't we shoot him?" suggested David, as -they moved on with increasing speed.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Shoot! My dear boy, with automatics! He -wouldn't mind much unless we shot his eye out, -and then he'd be deadly! Wish I'd brought the -little rifle, but I thought it was safer with the -pelts on the sled, it's so heavy to carry. You -want something pretty strong to stop a bear. -Dad says their skins are so thick. Bother it, -he's coming. Run, Da, and don't tumble over -the roots, whatever you do. Remember the -bunk house is good and close. We'll get there."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Where's that donkey Robin?" muttered -David, but Nell did not answer; she was intent on -this very tiresome adventure. It was fairly plain -that the dog had found the bear trail and followed -it to the cave. No doubt he was hunting up -there among the rocks, and in a way she was not -anxious for him to come till this was over, -because a dog has small chance with a bear if it -comes to fighting at close quarters. People have -an idea that a bear kills by hugging, and will -always squeeze his enemy to death, whereas the -astonishing weapon it uses is the lightning -swiftness of its <em class="italics">strike</em>. A bear strikes with his -fore-paw--which is armed with terrible rending -claw--as quickly as a snake darts, and he can -break the neck of a moose or a buffalo with one -smack. Nell knew all about this and she did not -want Robin to come to close quarters, therefore -she would not whistle, but ran on, David keeping -up with her, faster and faster.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now these two were very swift of foot, but -they had been greatly tried for a good many -days and nights, they were hungry and a bit -spent, for it was afternoon; lastly, they were -cumbered with their packs and shoes. They -were handicapped, but fortunately for them so -also was the bear, for he, too, was not at his best.</p> -<p class="pnext">A certain great writer says that an elephant -does not seem to be made for speed, but if he -wanted to catch an express train he would -probably catch it. A bear, too, does not look as -though he could run, but he can, very fast indeed, -and it took all the running those two could manage -to keep ahead. Nell's anxiety was David chiefly. -Could he hold out?</p> -<p class="pnext">Fortunately it was all downhill, and they were -very surefooted with long practice of running -over rough ground. The bear came shambling -on behind, grunting with anger.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't look round, Da," ordered Nell sharply, -"you'll trip up! Look where you're going! -The bunk house is quite close now."</p> -<p class="pnext">David did as he was told, knowing she was -right about the tripping. A stumble would be -death. Just where you put your feet mattered -enormously at that moment. The bunk house -was close--which was comforting.</p> -<p class="pnext">What he did not realise, and Nell wanted to -keep from him, was that the bear was gaining. -Every time she sent a glancing look over her -shoulder he was a little nearer. She measured -the distance to the bunk house anxiously. It -was touch and go; she would not admit to herself -that it could not be done. What was the distance? -Fifty yards, forty? Less?</p> -<p class="pnext">And at that moment David went headlong -over a bunch of snags half hidden by snow. He -was looking round to see what Nell was looking -at. Just as anybody might. He wanted to see -what she thought and felt, because he realised -great danger.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell sprang to him. He was on his feet in less -time than it takes to tell about it, but the bear -had gained. The girl glanced once at him and -her soul sickened. His red mouth was open and -his little pig-like eyes were full of mad rage, -even the horrid smell of his rusty coat came to -her on the clean air.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Run, Da," she said, keeping her voice level, -"run! We shall do it," but she was loosening -her pistol in its pocket and getting ready for the -stand that must come directly.</p> -<p class="pnext">On the instant she felt a stab of dread, from -behind came a sudden bell-like bay--the note of -Robin on a scent in full cry.</p> -<p class="pnext">He had been hunting round about the dens in -the rocks and hit on the bear's fresh tracks. It -was a beautiful sound, that deep note of the big -hound, and to Nell it meant rescue, she believed. -One glance she took at the wood behind. Up on -the slope she saw the black shape of Robin, nose -to ground, racing down on the track of the -bear--and his mistress.</p> -<p class="pnext">He was galloping, tail high, heavy ears drooped -forward. Again he gave out his deep bay.</p> -<p class="pnext">The bear checked his speed, wavered, and then -came on again, but without the terrible intentness -of his previous attack. Being a wild creature he -was aware of danger. Something was coming!</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell increased her speed, if that were possible, -and heartened her brother with a joyous cry:</p> -<p class="pnext">"On, on, Da--let's get the door open, and -then call Robin in. He mustn't fight the bear."</p> -<p class="pnext">The difficulty of opening the door with the -bear at her elbow, so to speak, had been the -haunting terror. One couldn't do it. There -would be no time.</p> -<p class="pnext">She and David raced down to the door, just -as the bear turned to deal with this swift black -shape that leaped round him in the snow, keeping -just out of reach of his death-dealing forearm.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, the key, the key--it's locked!" cried -Nell rather desperately. "Oh, Da! Where did -Dad say----" She tried to think. David was -absorbed in watching Robin's assault on the -bear, which was sitting up again, making swift -smacks at the illusive black attacker.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well <em class="italics">done</em>--go it, Robin!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, don't, he'll be killed," Nell expostulated -in an agonised voice, while her eyes travelled -eagerly round the door frame, and she shook -the solid latch.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He won't be killed. He's too quick," said -the boy triumphantly. "Key? Oh, there it is on -a nail under the eave. I say, Nell, look at Rob! -He's a right smart one!"</p> -<p class="pnext">It was true. Rob was tormenting the bear -with great cleverness, but Nell was far more -intent on getting into safety, and probably few -people have experienced a warmer sense of relief -than she did when she opened the door of the -bunk house.</p> -<p class="pnext">Not much of a place, but the relief!</p> -<p class="pnext">She glanced round with a satisfied look, and -saw four bunks--like the berths of a ship--on -one side, a rusty stove laid ready for lighting, as -the custom is the outgoing traveller must lay the -fire for the one who arrives wet and chilled, a -pile of chopped wood, and a rough cupboard. -Besides that a heavily made bench and a table. -But the joy of it! Nell could have danced round -that very rough table in spite of her weary legs, -but there was Robin to capture and a furious -bear outside.</p> -<p class="pnext">After that look round she rushed out again and -whistled to the dog. Then she called. Robin -was very loath to leave the great black brute, out -of whose reach he kept for the time being.</p> -<p class="pnext">He came at Nell's call reluctantly. The bear -came, too, but with more caution as he was not -sure how much he liked the log house.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then the heavy door was slammed and locked, -and the three sat down and breathed hard amid -bursts of laughter. Robin laughed, too, as dogs -do, his lips lifted over his teeth. His eyes said:</p> -<p class="pnext">"What a spree, wasn't it?" and he laid a heavy -paw on Nell's knee.</p> -<p class="pnext">She stroked his black silky head with a hand -that shook just a little.</p> -<p class="pnext">"If it hadn't been for Rob, Da, you'd have -been--well, it was touch and go when you fell -over that root."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Rotten thing!" said David cheerfully. "But -you know it's not so easy to run for your life -carrying a mass of things, and the ground all -tangled up under the snow. Well, here we are! -I say, how jolly! Nell, what will the old brute do?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Go away, presently," answered his sister as -she kneeled to light the stove. "Now, then, first -off with the moccasins and have our dry stockings, -then we'll have a real decent supper. Da, put -the fur bags in the bunks and bring those bunk -blankets near the stove; we'll have it all hot and dry."</p> -<p class="pnext">The first thing that happened after that was a -discovery, and not a pleasant one either. There -was a little food in the cupboard--tea and cocoa in -tins, flour, and tobacco, and a small bit of bacon -frozen hard. It was obviously the cache of -some trapper who had passed here on his way -down to Moose River, and as he would depend -on it when he returned probably, they were in -honour bound either to leave it alone, or put -back what they took. Nell remembered with a -sudden shock of dismay that Andrew Lindsay's -cache was outside. He had described the -place at the corner of the shack. Not trusting -some of the trappers--with good reason--he had -made a cache of his own. That would have -been quite all right if the bear had not been -outside.</p> -<p class="pnext">They had to laugh and be thankful for the small -supply in the cupboard. In the morning, or -late that night perhaps, they would dig for -"Dad's cache" and put back what they had -used--also have another supper and a good -breakfast.</p> -<p class="pnext">They gave Robin his last piece of fish, and at -the same moment remembered that it was not -possible to make tea without water, or get water -without snow, and all the snow was outside!</p> -<p class="pnext">Long they waited and listened, their only -comfort being the warmth of the fire. They were -very patient, as people learn to be who live hardly -and have to make, get, and do everything for -themselves by the work of their own wits and -fingers. It is not an easy life, but it teaches you -a lot which is never wasted.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently, from the little window, glazed with -parchment, they caught a sight of the bear sitting -up holding in his arms a piece of logwood, -which he seemed to be licking--for insects -probably.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, <em class="italics">poor</em> old thing!" said Nell joyfully, -and she rushed to the door with her billy-can.</p> -<p class="pnext">Very soon after the smell of hot tea and baking -bread made the log house feel like home.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="rifle-shots">CHAPTER XIV</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">RIFLE SHOTS!</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">In spite of insufficient supper, a horrible trial -when you are extremely hungry, it is doubtful -if ever two people slept sounder than these -travellers. The dry bunks and blankets, with -the warm fur bags, made beds for a king. The -hot tea and hot heavy bread, made with flour -and water, were warming, and satisfying, too, -with the bit of bacon. They were too tired to -worry about the bear, which came back and -prowled round the shack when the warm smell -of food came out of the pipe that served as a -chimney. Bears love bacon, which is why the -great traps laid for them--drop traps--are nearly -always baited with lumps of bacon or pork.</p> -<p class="pnext">How soon he went away they did not know, for -they were asleep, and they slept for ten hours almost -without moving, and woke up to daylight filtering -in through the parchment pane, and a cold stove.</p> -<p class="pnext">They got up with reluctance, in spite of -hunger. David would have preferred to stay -where he was all day, and argued about it in a -disgraceful manner, Nell said. She opened the -door and there, close by, was the wide river, the -white road leading to safety and civilisation.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then the sun came up, hot and bright, and the -snow sparkled in millions of dripping jewels.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come out and dig for breakfast," said Nell, -"or will you do the stove while I dig?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Look out for the bear," answered David -sleepily, "probably he's waiting round the corner."</p> -<p class="pnext">But he wasn't. All was clear, and presently -the two travellers were busy as bees digging for -the cache by Nell's recollection of its position. -Fortunately the ground was much softer, because -of the thaw and the sun, while the cache itself -was only just below the surface and covered -chiefly by stones and rubbish. This was the -usual way. Men did not have time or inclination -to make deep pits, they just concealed the package -from man and beast till they should come by -again and need the goods.</p> -<p class="pnext">The parcel was carefully tied up in dressed -hide, so that the leather was soft. Tea, sugar, -baking powder, and flour, beans and bacon. The -latter was rather rusty, certainly, but what is that -when you are hungry! Probably it had been -well frozen and was hardly thawed yet. Nell -took it all indoors and smoothed the place over. -They had been obliged to dig with the axe. They -had nothing else, but it was not good for the blade!</p> -<p class="pnext">Her plan was to eat well and carry on the rest, -after putting back the little store in the cupboard. -They would surely want it for the journey still -ahead. She would divide the weight into two -parcels wrapped in the skin.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell's mind was fairly at ease. If she had -realised it, the reason of that was chiefly the -warmth, the long, restful sleep, and the sunshine. -Things look so different in different -circumstances and nervous dread often comes with -weariness and cold. She believed the danger -was over and the journey on from now would be -easy. It was not so very far, she reasoned, and -the best of all was that every mile now might -bring them to possible habitations, to farms -even. They were coming down into the haunts -of men at last. That meant safety.</p> -<p class="pnext">Of course, all this work--digging up and -smoothing down--then the stove lighting and -wood collecting, then the comfortable breakfast -on a table, with the water boiling hard by on the -warm stove, all took time. Time, too, was taken -up in dividing the food into proper shares for -carrying away and leaving. It was at this stage -that David suddenly made the proposition which -undermined the plan for the day already settled.</p> -<p class="pnext">He was leaning against the doorway, looking -out at the sun on the river, playing with Robin, -just as though they were at home up in the hills, -left so far behind.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I say, Nell, why do you want to go to-day?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell stopped in her work of putting back the -cache in the cupboard.</p> -<p class="pnext">"But, Da, we ought to!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why <em class="italics">ought</em>? We are perfectly safe now. It -will only make a few hours' difference."</p> -<p class="pnext">"We can't be sure of that. How about -Stenson? We don't know where he is. He won't -give up."</p> -<p class="pnext">"He will. Sure as fate he'll catch the Redskins -and the sled. He'll believe he has followed -a false trail all through and he'll give up. Now -just think, Nell, why on earth should he come -on this way. He was bound to find them, and -there you are! Why <em class="italics">should</em> he keep on coming -this way with no trail to follow?"</p> -<p class="pnext">It was true. Quite true and reasonable. It -was most unlikely that Stenson should go on -searching for a different trail over miles and -miles of country when he had found the end of -the trail made--as he thought--by the young -Lindsays. Where would he look? It was fair -and reasonable to conclude that he would be -baffled by the young Indians and go back to -Abbitibbi. The plan propounded and carried -out by Shines-in-the-Night was a very sound one. -She would go her way, across to the other river -which ran down to the Moose about parallel with -this one, only some fifty miles of woods between -the two streams. Stenson might follow her, to -see what she would do, but he had no means of -picking up the trail of the Lindsays.</p> -<p class="pnext">All these thoughts, for and against, rose and -sank in the girl's mind. There was really no -reason why they should not take a very necessary -rest for this one day and start at dawn on the -following morning, but instinctively she felt it -was dangerous. David said, "But why? But -why, Nell?" twice. She had no very definite -reason to answer with. Only a feeling.</p> -<p class="pnext">Of course she wanted to stop; who would not -after such a strain? The shack was luxury. They -really did need the rest, and in a way there was a -good deal to do getting themselves clean, tidy, -and ship-shape for the journey to come.</p> -<p class="pnext">In the end David won. Nell laughed, gave in, -and began to make baking-powder bread with the -new materials, stirring it in the billy-can with a -stick. You can use billy-cans for so many things -when you have to!</p> -<p class="pnext">"On one condition," she said, "that we go -to bed as soon as the sun goes down and get off -really early, about four o'clock, so we can start -before daybreak."</p> -<p class="pnext">David promised joyfully. Whatever he felt in -the morning would be another pair of shoes! He -went off down to the river and came back to say the -thaw was jolly well getting a move on things! The -ice was shifting up the banks. In some places there -was water as well as melted snow on its surface.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Look out for bridge ice, Nell, to-morrow," -he said, as he sat down to the table. "I do -believe it's going out in a few days. Rather -early this year, isn't it?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell said it was warmer down here than up in -the hills. There was a much greater force of water -underneath, too, here than up at the source of the -stream, naturally. And, after all, it was April!</p> -<p class="pnext">"Once it begins, it always goes so quickly," -she said. "If it will last for us, just two whole -days more--we ought to get somewhere safe, -Da, in that time."</p> -<p class="pnext">"We shall," said David with conviction, and -his sister put away from her the queer nervous -feeling that would not let her mind rest entirely.</p> -<p class="pnext">A great part of that afternoon they lay still in -their bunks, talking at intervals, while Robin -dozed by the fire. As it happened, this was a -very good thing for all three! The odd jobs -were done. All was ready, the wood to fill the -stove with in the morning, and the packets.</p> -<p class="pnext">About sundown they had a meal, and after -that the grey dusk began to creep over everything. -Soft, still shadow.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now bed," said Nell; "we've got no -candles and we must be up about four."</p> -<p class="pnext">The words were hardly finished when a -gun-shot rang out sharp on the silence.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell started as though she had been hit, -because her mind was still strained.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It may be anybody," said David. Robin -growled. Nell opened the door and listened.</p> -<p class="pnext">From the wood at the back a voice said, loud -and harsh:</p> -<p class="pnext">"You would, would you? You'd be ugly, eh?"</p> -<p class="pnext">It was Stenson's voice, and undoubtedly he -had met with the bear!</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come on, Da. Smart. We must get off. -Thank God for the evening, and thank God for -the bear!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell laughed suddenly, a low, jerky laugh.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Who'd have thought it?" said David. That -was all. He was feeling the least bit guilty, -because Nell had really wanted to go on. -However, there it was--and thank God for the bear!</p> -<p class="pnext">It took a very few minutes to clear out. The -bundles were done up in double-quick time, and -the rest was ready.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now then," said Nell, "and, Da, hold -Robin; whatever happens he mustn't go."</p> -<p class="pnext">David, strapping on snowshoes, agreed quickly, -then he said:</p> -<p class="pnext">"It's bad luck his finding the place warm and -the stove still alight. It's a complete give-away."</p> -<p class="pnext">"He won't find anything, unless he blows the -door out. I've locked it and I've got the key," -answered Nell grimly. "There's another shot! -He's still busy. What a mercy it is getting -really dark!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Cautiously keeping the shack between -themselves and the wood they sped down to the -brink, out through the rotten ice and slush, and -away on to the river. Then off, with all the -speed they could muster, away and away, -eastward again down that smooth snow-covered road, -and the last thing they heard was another shot.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I hope the old bear kills him," said David -vindictively.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, he won't. Stenson's got his gun. But, -Da, what a true mercy; if he hadn't come by the -bear track he'd have actually walked into the -shack and caught us going to bed."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I'd have shot him if he had, as soon as wink," -said David; "he wants peppering."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell laughed again. She had thought of that -last resort herself!</p> -<p class="pnext">Next time she spoke she said how splendid the -rest had been. This was because she knew -David was feeling a little guilty about it. Also -it was very, very true. Both of them moved in -quite a new way. The effort of that last day was -gone; they were as fresh as when they started, -and so was Robin.</p> -<p class="pnext">Darker it grew and darker, till they went on -with no light but the snow and a few stars, not -the great shining stars of the farthest north, but -stars that helped a little.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell was more anxious about the road underfoot -than the skies overhead. There was always -the danger of a flaw in the ice below, and she -knew there might be holes--places where water -had come up over the ice, places where streams -from the bank running in made weakness. Nell -had often heard stories of inexperienced folk -going up north too late in the season, who had -died a quick death because "the bottom fell out -of the trail," that was the expression used when -the ice road gave way under you and you went -down and under the awful drifting sections of ice. -And yet what were they to do? The river was -better going than the rough shores which might -be any kind of travelling, up hill, down dale, -woods, streams cutting into the big one, every -sort of delay and check.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was best, she decided, to keep on, going -fast, as long as they heard no cracking, serious -cracking. If that began, they must land and -get past any weak place by the bank.</p> -<p class="pnext">"After all, we are not very heavy," she said, -and comforted herself with that.</p> -<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">He</em> is," suggested David. "I wonder what -he is doing now! I wonder if he'll break the -lock of that shack, or if he'll hit our trail and -follow up directly. Of course, he may have killed -the bear. If he has he might stop to strip the pelt -at once and come down to the shack afterwards."</p> -<p class="pnext">So did David talk cheerfully, because he was -refreshed by that good rest. Nell was glad to -hear it. She also was refreshed and unafraid of -the night, but the long, long road ahead seemed -to rise before her eyes as they drove on and on -into the darkness.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst" id="in-which-the-ice-goes-out-and-the-trail-leads-home">CHAPTER XV</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">IN WHICH THE ICE GOES OUT, AND THE TRAIL LEADS HOME</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Now the reason that Mr. Jan Stenson -turned up at the bunk house was not far -to seek. It has been said he was proud of his -cunning, and he was cunning, though -Shines-in-the-Night baffled him by her clever trick.</p> -<p class="pnext">He and Jukes saw the two Redskins cut across -presently to the northward, going steadily on -their way to the upper river. He would not -interfere with them for the reason already stated. -No good could come of quarrelling with -Redskins. They never forgive. If it was after -scores of years or over thousands of miles they -would pay the score in full--ultimately. So he -let the girl go and he and Jukes had a row.</p> -<p class="pnext">Jukes taunted him with folly, and words grew -very hot indeed. Finally Jukes went away by -himself, saying he was going back to the shack -in the hills. He went, sullen and savage.</p> -<p class="pnext">Stenson was left alone, bitterly furious with -the young Lindsays, because he was sure the -first part of the trail was theirs, and he was -equally sure he must have been hoaxed -somehow. But how! And the presence of the -young Indians was entirely surprising, too. He -could not make it all out.</p> -<p class="pnext">Doggedly he went back on that trail till he -came to the lake. Then, as it was near midday, -he made a short rest and ate some of his dried -meat. After that he deliberately went back all -the way to the rock of the Wolf's Tooth and -began searching about there with care that he -had not bestowed in the morning, when he had -rather jumped to conclusions on first sighting -the trail. Taken it all for granted, that is to say. -Now he meant to unravel the mystery, and he -came near enough to make a fair guess. Searching -about with the skill of an old hand, he decided -that the camp fire was not an Indian fire--too -large--also there was far too much trampling up -and down the bank for Redskins, who move like -forest creatures. Then he followed tracks in -the snow back and forth, till suddenly he came -on the print of <em class="italics">dog's</em> feet. Then he gave a short -laugh that was almost a shout. What a fool -he'd been! It must be the dog's trail that proved -the presence of the Lindsays. Why hadn't he -remembered the dog!</p> -<p class="pnext">From that moment he went hunting on a new -plan, as it were. The Lindsays must have -started from this promontory. He was sure of -that. Therefore the point most evident was to -find the start. From the fire he worked round, -taking a semicircle on the land side and back -again. By dusk he had not discovered what he -wanted, but he believed he should, so he camped -there that night and began again as soon as he -could see well.</p> -<p class="pnext">Of course he found the trail made by Nell, -David, and the dog, right across by the north -shore to beyond the first big bend of the river, -where they took to the ice again. The thaw -had made it more difficult, but such an old trailer -as Stenson could not be deceived easily.</p> -<p class="pnext">He found the fire where they stopped, and -finally in the dusk, as described, he followed the -trail up the steep to the neighbourhood of the -bear's den. If he had not done that he would, -of course, have surprised the two in the shack. -As it was, the bear became, after all, a friend to -the pair he had attacked in the first place.</p> -<p class="pnext">When Stenson appeared the big black brute -was in a worse mood than before. He was more -hungry and he had smelt the scent of cooking -that came from the stove-pipe of the log house. -The trapper fired at him, because he was -obviously dangerous and it had not occurred to -him that the trail he had followed ended so soon. -If it had, he would have been more cautious -probably.</p> -<p class="pnext">The bear, slightly wounded, made a dash for -the man, who ran behind a tree and fired again. -But the light was deceiving, and the affair ended -in the bear retreating into the rocky fortress--to -fight another day. Stenson, seeing drops of -blood on the snow, decided to come again, kill -the bear, and get the pelt; meanwhile he would -go on down to the shack, which was, he knew, -not far distant on this curve of the river bank. -Therefore he presently came down to the log -hut and found it was locked. That did not -surprise him much, but he expected to find the -key hung as usual in some place under the -sheltering eaves of the log roof.</p> -<p class="pnext">By this time it was too dark to see a trail, or -find a small thing like a key. So Mr. Jan Stenson -lost his temper, as he usually did, and blew in -the lock of the door, as he had done to another -log house not long before!</p> -<p class="pnext">Instantly he was greeted by a smell of warmth -and food. The little place had not had time to -cool. The blankets were warm. The stove -hastily filled up with fresh wood, already dry, -was quite hot.</p> -<p class="pnext">Stenson rushed out into the snow, and lighting -a torch made of a bit of dry bark, looked about -over the ground and found at once the track of -the three sets of footprints to the water's -edge--or rather to the edge of the ice.</p> -<p class="pnext">He went slowly back to the shack, considering -what he should do, and the final conclusion -he came to was--a mistake.</p> -<p class="pnext">He did not imagine that the Lindsays were but -ten minutes ahead of him. Had he been sure of -that he would certainly have followed on at once. -The smartness of Nell's retreat was beyond him. -He did not believe she would have gone off down -river in the dark. It was unreasonable to suppose -that two young things would have started at -nightfall. Therefore he decided to follow his -inclination, now he knew that they must be about -six or eight hours ahead of him at the outside, -on a direct course to Moose River and probably -unsuspicious of his approach. He would make -a good meal, take a few hours' comfortable -sleep and go on again at dawn. He was travelling -faster than they were. They seemed entirely at -his mercy, for the river was wide and open, -while there would be many, many miles of Moose -River yet to cover.</p> -<p class="pnext">Thus, while Nell, David, and Robin drove -their weary feet on and on through the night -hours, Mr. Stenson slept soundly and woke up -before daybreak to finish the food Andrew Lindsay -had cached. It was certainly not justice, but -that has nothing to do with adventures, very -often, anyway.</p> -<p class="pnext">Later on he started, picked up the trail at -once and went off down river at a pace that -over-gained on the hunted pair from the first. Given -time, and a clear field, he was simply bound to -overtake them, and he knew it.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell was obliged to call a rest early in the -morning. They had to light a fire and fry some -bacon, which Robin shared. Anxiety was telling -on her as well as fatigue, and her legs trembled -with weariness. David was really wonderful, but -he was rather silent, and Robin's feet were a little -sore. He was not used to so many miles of -travel; ice particles got between his toes, and -though he bit them out when the party rested, -after so many days of irritation and wetness it -had caused pain. He was a little lame, too.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, when will it end?" was poor Nell's -feeling as they packed up and went on again. -This time not for many hours. They had to -call another halt which stretched to middle day. -The sun was shining gloriously and the whole -world was one sheet of sparkles. Had they been -less tired, it would have seemed a glorious day -to be alive on. The country was flatter and -more open as a rule, but in places the woods -came again, and the twittering of birds sounded -in the dripping branches.</p> -<p class="pnext">About three o'clock in the afternoon, David -called Nell's attention to a line of willows across -the low pastures towards the south. A very long -way ahead, but still visible. Was it not a tributary -stream, a little river, running into their own -road? They both stood still to look and consider. -It was--or might be--important, because sometimes -a mile or two up these tributary streams a -homestead would be found, a farm or small -settlement. There was just a chance that it -might be so in this case, the open country to the -south appearing somehow to suggest cultivation, -or they thought so.</p> -<p class="pnext">Standing so, Nell looked round, and her heart -gave a sickening leap as she realised the full -horror of what she saw.</p> -<p class="pnext">Jan Stenson, coming straight down the river -after them. Too far off for them to see his face, -but the short, strong figure they knew.</p> -<p class="pnext">David saw also; his remark was characteristic.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, we're three, he's one. We'll have to -kill him."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Da! He'll shoot Robin."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Can't we shoot <em class="italics">him</em>?" retorted the boy fiercely.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come on," was Nell's answer.</p> -<p class="pnext">The weakness left them in sheer excitement, -and they raced ahead. Nell, thinking hard of -ways and means, felt her mind haunted by the -corner where the smaller river joined in. Should -they make a stand by the willows? Perhaps -pistol shots might be heard by someone and -bring help. It was a very poor chance, though.</p> -<p class="pnext">She looked round. Stenson gained very little. -Their spurt had been useful. Now they were -nearing the corner. Which should they do?</p> -<p class="pnext">In the excitement of the race the condition of -the ice had been almost forgotten, but at this -point there was a loud crack, and then another. -Nell had a feeling as though the ice beneath their -snow road had swayed. Glancing at the bank -nearest the willows she saw the whole ice line -move and shift at the edges.</p> -<p class="pnext">Robin was running with his nose to the ground -as usual, but he checked now with a whine of -anxiety, and sheered off from the side where the -new stream opened up.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Follow Robin," ordered Nell sharply. "Not -too close together, Da--the higher we are the -better."</p> -<p class="pnext">There was another crack, and behind the -flying snowshoes a thin line of water oozed up -in one place, then all was quiet again.</p> -<p class="pnext">Robin sped on, choosing his path, and the -two followed. They were so intent that Nell -forgot her feeling about the other stream, or -rather she abandoned the idea in the excitement -of getting over that dangerous place. The only -thing to do seemed to be to go straight ahead.</p> -<p class="pnext">David was talking excitedly, and she had not -even listened, because of her anxiety. But when -they were going on safely again she said, -"What?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why, Stenson, Nell! If he doesn't land and -go by the banks, he'll smash through sure -as----"</p> -<p class="pnext">"He'll land," said Nell; "it won't delay him -much to do that."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Not so sure," grunted David, and he kept on -looking back over his shoulder.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell was just going to beg him not to do it, -because it checked their speed a little, when he -gave a crow of triumph and stopped short.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nell perforce stopped, while in her ears rang -a sharp far-away splitting sound.</p> -<p class="pnext">Mr. Jan Stenson had reached the weak spot--and -the ice had gone under with him.</p> -<p class="pnext">From side to side of the river behind the two -came reports, as the ice gave in all directions.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh," gasped Nell, "what ought we--to do!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I believe you want to go back and help him -out! I <em class="italics">say</em>, Nell, you really <em class="italics">are</em>!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"But, Da, it's rather awful!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh no. Only awfully wet, and jolly cold. -Look, he's got his arms over the edge of the ice -and is breaking along towards the shore. He'll -get out--in the end. Come on."</p> -<p class="pnext">The last thing they saw, in far distance, was a -figure crawling very slowly out on to the north -bank. It did not seem to be moving in their -direction. As a matter of fact, Jan Stenson made -the best of his way back to the shack, having lost -his gun, though he saved his life--by a very -narrow margin! It would have been madness to -follow the flying pair in his drenched clothes, -with no means of making a fire, as his -ammunition and matches were soaked. Better to get -back to warmth and dryness--and start again -to-morrow.</p> -<p class="pnext">That was what he said to himself, but he did -not do it. One of his snowshoes had gone in -that struggle for life--and anyway, the river was -not safe any more.</p> -<p class="pnext">The young Lindsays went on for awhile -without such haste, and presently camped on the -south bank. As they were collecting firewood -and making a cheerful blaze they heard sounds of -voices--several voices and the barking of dogs. -Then appeared, attracted nearer by the sight of -this little fire, three men and a dog sled drawn -by six huskies. It seemed that Nell's instinct -was right, and up along that little river there was -a homestead and small farm. These men had -been up there with supplies, and were coming -back with pelts, on their way home to the nearest -settlement on Moose River.</p> -<p class="pnext">They were entirely amazed at the Lindsay -pair and Robin, and asked many questions, but -Nell, as always, was cautious. They had all -heard of Andrew Lindsay the trapper. Nell told -them he had injured his leg and she was doing -important business for him. She must get to -the settlement, and after that she and David -would go back home.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You can't go on the ice," said one man, -"it's not safe now. It's going out all along."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I know," agreed the girl, and David laughed.</p> -<p class="pnext">No one saw what he was laughing at!</p> -<p class="pnext">So those three went down to the settlement in -good and safe company, and Nell deposited all -that money in the local post office, for that had -been her intention all through.</p> -<p class="pnext">A very little she took to buy necessary kit, -and then she, David, and Robin went back to -the hills with the trader who was going as usual -to collect pelts from the trappers in the far-away -woods.</p> -<p class="pnext">Going back was a safe enough journey, and -did not seem as long as you might think, because -of the relief of mind. Nor was Nell worried -about her father, because she knew that the -Redskin friends, Shines-in-the-Night and the -Lizard, had long since gone back to the home -camp and carried the news of Nell's flight to -put the hard-earned money in safety.</p> -<p class="pnext">And it was so. When they got back to the log -house in the forest, Lindsay had come and knew -the whole story. Nor was he kept long in -suspense, for by the time he had mended his door -and got all ship-shape the adventurous pair and -Robin arrived with the traders.</p> -<p class="pnext">Stenson and Jukes removed to another -neighbourhood--they found it healthier.</p> -<p class="pnext">And so presently did Andrew Lindsay and his -children, when David had to be turned into an -engineer. But the story of those two on the trail -was not soon forgotten among the folk in the North.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst small">THE END.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst small white-space-pre-line">Printed in Great Britain at<br /> -<em class="italics white-space-pre-line">The Mayflower Press, Plymouth</em>. William Brendon & Son, Ltd.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst white-space-pre-line">* * * * *</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 6em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst x-large">Books for Boys and Girls</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst"><em class="italics">From Six to Sixteen</em></p> -<p class="center large pnext">BY POPULAR WRITERS</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">ILLUSTRATED BY FIRST-CLASS ARTISTS</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">LONDON<br /> -SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE<br /> -AND<br /> -THE SHELDON PRESS</p> -<p class="center pnext small white-space-pre-line">S.P.C.K. HOUSE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.2<br /> -NEW YORK AND TORONTO: THE MACMILLAN CO.<br /> -And at all Booksellers.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst"><em class="italics">FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Oggie and the Sea Fairies. By ALICE SOPHIA JACKSON.<br /> -The Adventures of Mr. Bunny Kit. By A. EVA RICHARDSON.<br /> -The Fairy Spectacles. By M. P. THOMASSET.<br /> -Sunshiny Stories. By CONSTANCE HEWARD.<br /> -How Audrey became a Guide. By F. O. H. NASH.<br /> -Audrey in Camp. By F. O. H. NASH.<br /> -Joy, the Happiest Child in England. By F. O. BEAMES.<br /> -Princess Lily-of-the Valley. By THEODORA MILLS.<br /> -Queen Mab. By Mrs. ARTHUR WOODGATE.<br /> -Kevin and the Cats. By K. F. PURDON.<br /> -The Adventures of Nancy in Sweden. By PAULINE TOLLER.<br /> -Two Little People and Some Others. By JESSIE MITCHELL.<br /> -Mick, an Ugly Dog. By EMILY UNDERDOWN (NORLEY CHESTER).<br /> -The Moon Lady. By A. EVA RICHARDSON.<br /> -Two from Town. By THEODORA MILLS.<br /> -Geoffey. By AMY GRIFFS VERNON.<br /> -Tom Dick and Nancy.<br /> -The Children of the Cliff. By A. V. BUTTON.<br /> -The Dauntless Three. By BEATRICE RADFORD.<br /> -Little King Richard. By MAUD CAREW.<br /> -Stories from Fancyland. By LEWIS EVANS.<br /> -Norah with an "H." By LUCIE E. JACKSON.<br /> -Some Brownies and a Boggart. By F. O. H. NASH.<br /> -While Mother Was Away. By ETHEL TALBOT.<br /> -The Island Camp. By ETHEL TALBOT.<br /> -A Year of Adventure. By ROBERT DE MOUNTJOIE RUDOLF.<br /> - (The scene is laid in Ceylon during the Napoleonic Wars.)<br /> -Who are the Cromlyns? By E. L. HAVERFIELD.<br /> -The Fortunes of Harold Borlase. A Story of the Days of Drake. By JOHN GRAEME.<br /> -The Plague Ship. By G. A. HENTY.<br /> -Holiday Chums. By ETHEL TALBOT.<br /> -The Wiltons in Wartime. By ROBERT DE MOUNTJOIE RUDOLF.<br /> -Barncliffe of Errington. Adventures during the Peninsular War. By F. B. FORESTER.<br /> -Sylvia finds a Fairy. By ROBERT DE MOUNTJOIE RUDOLF.<br /> -A Little Pair of Pilgrims. By MARGARET J. M. BOLLAND.<br /> -The Gilroy Family. By CONSTANCE M. SPENDER.<br /> -Lion Hearts. A Sequel to the "Gilroy Family." By CONSTANCE M. SPENDER.<br /> -The Cottage in the Wood. By MARY BALDWIN.<br /> -From Greenland's Icy Mountains. A Tale of the Polar Seas. By GORDON STABLES.<br /> -Barbara's Behaviour. A Story for Girls. By M. BRAMSTON.<br /> -The Ranche in the Valley. By G. A. HENTY.<br /> -The Story of Pat. By Mrs. H. O. CRADOCK.<br /> -Penelope and the Haunted House. By M. F. HUTCHINSON.<br /> -Pat of Whitehouse. A Story of Girl Guides. By H. B. DAVIDSON.<br /> -The Cotton Wool Girl. By E. M. CHANNON.<br /> -Kitty's Summer Holidays. By BEATRICE RADFORD.<br /> -Harter's Ranch. By F. B. FORESTER.<br /> -Over the Sea Wall, By E. EVERETT-GREEN.<br /> -The House of Mystery. By MARY BALDWIN.<br /> -Jack, the Englishman. By H. LOUISA BEDFORD.<br /> -Four Winds. By WINIFRED PARES.<br /> -Heroes of the Chitral Siege. By ALICE F. JACKSON.<br /> -The Fortunes of Junia. By M. BRAMSTON.<br /> -The Gold Hunters. An Exciting Story of the Californian Goldfields. By W. J. MARX.<br /> -Kitty. By A. F. MOUNT (Mrs. BRICKNELL PERRY).<br /> -The Stranding of the White Rose. By C. DUDLEY LAMPEN.<br /> -Finding her Family. By ELSIE J. OXENHAM.<br /> -Three in a Bungalow. A Story for Girls. By M. F. HUTCHINSON.<br /> -The Treasure League. By ROBERT DE MOUNTJOIE RUDOLF.<br /> -Barbara Pelham. The Story of an Unselfish Life. By M. E. SHIPLEY.<br /> -Adventures of Marshall Vavasour, Midshipman. By S. W. SADLER.<br /> -The Treasure of Spanish Villa. By F. BAYFORD HARRISON.<br /> -Care of Uncle Charlie. By FLORENCE WILLMOT.<br /> -The Lone Shanty on the Hill. An Adventure Story for Children. By NANCY M. HAYES.<br /> -The Secret of Marsh Haven. A Story of School Adventure. By ALFRED JUDD.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">BY AMY GREY</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Jack's Baby. A Story of a Kidnapped Baby.<br /> -Dick's Debt. Tells how a Boy did his Bit in War-time.<br /> -Vita. The Story of a Charming Little Girl.<br /> -The Copper Urn. A Story of Treasure hidden in a Copper Urn.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">SPLENDID STORIES FOR BOYS</em><br /> -BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Geoffrey Harrington's Adventures. Wonderful Adventures on an Island in the Pacific.<br /> -The Cruise of the "Non-Such" Buccaneer.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">STIRRING TALES</em><br /> -BY W. H. G. KINGSTON<br /> -(The famous writer for boys.)</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">The Log House by the Lake. A Tale of Canada.<br /> -The Two Shipmates.<br /> -Ned Garth; or, Made Prisoners in Africa.<br /> -Sunshine Bill.<br /> -Owen Hartley; or, Ups and Downs. A Tale of the Sea.<br /> -The Cruise of "The Dainty."<br /> -The Frontier Fort A Tale of Canada.<br /> -The Mate of the "Lily."<br /> -The Gilpins.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">SCHOOL STORIES</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Skimpy and the Saint. By SIBYL B. OWSLEY.<br /> -Eardley House. A Girls' School Story. By SIBYL B. OWSLEY.<br /> -The Chronicles of Durnford. A Public School Story. By JOHN CARTWRIGHT.<br /> -The School they Handed On. By SIBYL B. OWSLEY.<br /> -Westcote Towers. A Boys' School Story. By MARJORIE C. BARNARD.<br /> -Donald Marston. A Sequel to "Westcote Towers." By M. C. BARNARD.<br /> -Rosamond's Girls. By M. BRAMSTON.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">CAPITAL SEA STORIES</em><br /> -BY W. CHAS. METCALFE</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Grit and Pluck; or, The Young Commander.<br /> -Frank and Fearless; or, Adventures among Cannibals.<br /> -Dick Trawle, Second Mate.<br /> -Young Salts.<br /> -Ice-Gripped; or, The "Tomboy" of Boston.<br /> -Blown out to Sea.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY JOHN A. HIGGINSON</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">When Duty Called. A Yarn of Shipwreck and Adventure on the Coast of Portugal.<br /> -A Broken Voyage.<br /> -A Strange Craft.<br /> -The White Pirate.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">BOOKS FOR YOUNGER GIRLS</em><br /> -BY L. E. TIDDEMAN</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Aunt Pen.<br /> -Molly's Decision.<br /> -Nancy and her Cousins.<br /> -Next-Door Gwennie.<br /> -Ray and Fairy.<br /> -The Story of Dorothy.<br /> -When Bab was Young.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY HERBERT HAYENS</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">A Kidnapped Prince.<br /> -For Rupert and the King.<br /> -An Amazing Conspiracy.<br /> -(The hero risks his life to rescue his cousin from a Central American prison.)</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY BESSIE MARCHANT<br /> -(Well known as a writer of books for boys and girls.)</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Athabasca Bill. A Tale of the Far West.<br /> -A Brave Little Cousin.<br /> -Darling of Sandy Point.<br /> -The Deputy Boss;<br /> -The House at Brambling Minster. An Amusing Tale of a Haunted House.<br /> -The Mysterious City. A Story of the Congo.<br /> -Redwood Ranch.<br /> -Rolf the Rebel. Adventures in Cuba.<br /> -The Western Scout.<br /> -Yew Tree Farm.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY ALICE WILSON FOX</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Too Near the Throne. An Historical Romance.<br /> -Love the Leader; or, Defenders of the Faith.<br /> -Diana's Decision. A Story for Girls.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">STORIES OF ADVENTURE</em><br /> -BY FREDERIC HARRISON</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Rupert Dudleigh. A Story of Old Brighton.<br /> -Within a Year. A Story of the Siege of Acre.<br /> -De Montfort's Squire. A Story of the Battle of Lewes.<br /> -Sea Scouts Afloat. A Story of the Great War.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">EDITH E. COWPER'S<br /> -Books for Boys and Girls</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Andrew Garnett's Will.<br /> -Bessie.<br /> -The Black Dog's Rider. A High-spirited Girl turns Highway Robber.<br /> -The Captain of the Waterguard. Adventures on the South Coast<br /> - in the Early Days of the Coastguard Service.<br /> -Ida's Floating Camp.<br /> -The Disappearance of David Pendarve.<br /> -The House with Dragon Gates. A Story of Old Chiswick in 1745.<br /> -The Invaders of Fairford. An Historical Story of Cromwellian Times.<br /> -The Island of Rushes. The Strange Story of a Holiday Mystery.<br /> -The King's Double. A Vivid Episode in the Civil War.<br /> -Leo Lousada, Gentleman Adventurer. Strange Ad ventures in the Channel Islands.<br /> -The Misadventures of I.M.P.<br /> -The Moonrakers. A Story of Smugglers in the New Forest in 1747.<br /> -The Mystery of Castle Veor.<br /> -Red White, and Blue.<br /> -Two Girls and a Secret.<br /> -Two on the Trial. A Story of Trappers' Life in the Far North of Canada.<br /> -Wild Rose to the Rescue.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY MRS. EWING<br /> -(Whose stories have never been surpassed.)</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Daddy Darwin's Dovecot.<br /> -Dandelion Clocks, and Other Tales.<br /> -Jackanapes.<br /> -Lob Lie-by-the-Fire; or, The Luck of Lingborough.<br /> -Mary's Meadow, and Letters from a Little Garden.<br /> -The Peace Egg, and a Christmas Mumming Play.<br /> -Snapdragons. A Tale of Christmas Eve and Old Father Christmas.<br /> -The Story of a Short Life.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Another Edition.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Jackanapes, Daddy Darwin's Dovecot, and The Story of a<br /> - Short Life. In one volume, with Coloured Illustrations by H. M. BROCK, R.I.<br /> -Mary's Meadow, and Other Tales of Fields and Flowers.<br /> - With Coloured Illustrations by H. V. WHEELHOUSE.<br /> -Old-fashioned Fairy Tales. With 8 Coloured Illustrations by W. GRAHAM ROBERTSON.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Another Edition. Crown 8vo. size.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Jackanapes and Other Stories. Illustrated by GORDON BROWNE and RANDOLPH CALDECOTT.<br /> -Lob Lie-by-the-Fire and Other Tales. Illustrated by GORDON BROWNE.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY JOY MERIVALE</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Only a Boy; or, How Vere got back his Diamond.<br /> -Jumped by Convicts. A Tale of Plantation Life in British Guiana.<br /> -The Fallen Flyer; or, Camping in Canada.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">HISTORICAL TALES</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">See also books by GERTRUDE HOLLIS, J. M. NEALE,<br /> -FREDERIC HARRISON, E. E. COWPER.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">A Nest of Malignants. A Story of the Civil War. By DOROTHEA MOORE.<br /> -The Cross of Pearls. The Story of a French Family in the Fourteenth<br /> - Century. By Mrs. CATHERINE BEARNE.<br /> -A Saint George of King Charles's Days. By DOROTHEA TOWNSHEND.<br /> -Dame Joan of Pevensey. A Sussex Tale. By E. E. CRAKE.<br /> -The Forest Shrine. By E. P. GOUGH.<br /> -In Perilous Days. A Tale of the French Revolution. By Mrs. CATHERINE BEARNE.<br /> -In the Days of Origen. By the Rev. A. SHIRLEY.<br /> -Out of Weakness. By ANNIE L. GEE.<br /> -Master and Man. A Story of the Peasants' Revolt, 1381. By J. O. HARDWICK.<br /> -Sir Ranulf. A Story of St. Hugh of Lincoln. By E. K. SETH-SMITH.<br /> -The Purple Rose. A Story of Italy in the Fifteenth Century. By ANNE FORRESTER.<br /> -A Bearer of Despatches. A Story of the Siege of Lynn, 1643. By EMIL LOCH.<br /> -The Firebrand of the Indies. A Romance of Francis Xavier. By E. K. SETH-SMITH.<br /> -Richard of Lympne. By VIOLET T. KIRKE.<br /> -Under the Blue Flag. A Story of Monmouth's Rebellion. By MARY E. PALGRAVE.<br /> -Glory of War. A Story of the Days of Marlborough. By H. A. HINKSON.<br /> -Whither? The Story of a Flight. An Historical Tale. By DOROTHEA TOWNSEND.<br /> -The Hidden Chalice. By IERNE L. PLUNKET.<br /> -Brave Dame Mary; or, The Siege of Corfe Castle.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY GERTRUDE HOLLIS</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Between Two Crusades. A Tale of A.D. 1187.<br /> -The Blessed Bands. A Tale of Savonarola.<br /> -Hugh the Messenger. A Tale of the Siege of Calais<br /> -In a Royal Nursery. The Exciting Adventures of Charles I.'s Children.<br /> -In Crazy Times. A Tale of King Charles the Martyr.<br /> -In the Days of St. Anselm.<br /> -The King who was never Crowned.<br /> -Leo Of Mediolanum. A Tale of the Fourth Century.<br /> -The Lost Exile. A Tale of Siberia.<br /> -My Lord of Reading. A Tale of the Reformation.<br /> -Philip Okeover's Pagehood. A Story of the Peasants' Rising.<br /> -Spurs and Bride. A Tale of the Magna Charta.<br /> -Uncle Michael's Story. A Tale of the River Amazon.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY JOHN COMFORT</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Matt Desmond's Bit.<br /> -On His Own. The Adventures of an English Boy in Canada.<br /> -Don's Doings. A Story of Life in Western Canada.<br /> -Toby's Luck.<br /> -Nobby, a Son of Empire.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">HISTORICAL TALES</em><br /> -BY J. M. NEALE, D.D.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">Deeds of Faith.<br /> -Duchenier; or, The Revolt of La Vendée.<br /> -The Egyptian Wanderers. A Story of the Great Tenth Persecution.<br /> -Evenings at Sackville College. Legends for Children.<br /> -The Exiles of the Cebenna. A Story of the Decian Persecution.<br /> -The Farm of Aptonga. A Story of the Times of St. Cyprian.<br /> -The Followers of the Lord.<br /> -Herbert Tresham. A Tale of the Great Rebellion.<br /> -The Lazar House of Leros. A Tale or the Eastern Church in the<br /> - Seventeenth Century.<br /> -The Lily of Tiflis. A Sketch of Georgian Church History.<br /> -The Lions of Wady-Araba. A Story dealing with the Decian Persecution.<br /> -The Quay of the Dioscuri. A Tale of the Rise of Arianism.<br /> -The Sea Tigers. A Tale of the Nestorian Church.<br /> -Shepperton Manor. A Tale of the Times of James I.<br /> -The Sword of King Affonso. Tells of the Ill-fated Expedition of<br /> - Sebastian of Portugal to Africa.<br /> -Tales Illustrative of the Apostles' Creed.<br /> -Tales of Christian Endurance.<br /> -Tales of Christian Heroism.<br /> -Victories of the Saints.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">OTHER BOOKS<br /> -FOR YOUNG FOLK</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">The Children's Old Testament. By E. B. TRIST (Mrs. WM. O. PIERCY). -With thirty-six coloured and many black and white -Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Land of the Ever-Young. By ROSAMOND LANGBRIDGE. With -four coloured and four black and white Illustrations by F. D. BEDFORD. -An exquisite phantasy, which Mr. F. D. Bedford, who -illustrated "Peter and Wendy," has sympathetically interpreted.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Pilgrim's Progress. By JOHN BUNYAN. An edition for -children, arranged by JEAN MARIAN MATTHEW. With four coloured -and forty-two black and white Illustrations by H. J. FORD.</p> -<p class="pnext">A Life of Our Lord. Told in the Words of the Four Gospels. With -twelve coloured Illustrations by JAMES CLARK, R.I. (The letterpress -is entirely in the words of the Gospels, those incidents having been -chosen which are readily intelligible to children.)</p> -<p class="pnext">Where the Dolls Lived. By Mrs. H. C. CRADOCK. With four -coloured and numerous black and white Illustrations by HONOR C. -APPLETON. (A story in prose and picture, calculated to win the -heart of any little girl.)</p> -<p class="pnext">Peggy's Twins. By Mrs. H. C. CRADOCK. With four coloured and -six black and white Illustrations by HONOR C. APPLETON. (Another -charming book from these collaborators, who know so well how to -charm the minds of little children.)</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">BIBLE PICTURE BOOKS</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">A Life of our Saviour. For Little Children. Containing: Our -Saviour's Childhood, Ministry, Teaching and Triumph. -With twelve coloured Pictures, and many other Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Dawn of the World. Containing: The Story of Creation, -The Patriarchs, Joseph.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Chosen People Containing: Moses, Judges in Israel, David.</p> -<p class="pnext">Forerunners of Christ. Containing: Prophets in Israel and -Judah, Elijah, Kings of Israel and Judah.</p> -<p class="pnext">By E. B. TRIST (Mrs. WM. O. PIERCY). Each with twelve coloured and -twelve black and white Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">SS. Peter and Paul. Depicted by H. J. FORD. With Notes on the -pictures by W. K. LOWTHER CLARKE. With coloured Frontispiece -and thirteen other Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Sketches of English Church History. By ELIZABETH GRIERSON. -Illustrated. (Biographical Sketches drawn from all periods of English -History.)</p> -<p class="pnext">The Land where Jesus Lived. By GERTRUDE HOLLIS. With -coloured Plates and numerous Photographic Reproductions. (An -attractive book for the young.)</p> -<p class="pnext">The Parables. With coloured Frontispiece and twelve black and -white Illustrations. By H. J. FORD. (The parables are given in -full with short explanations where necessary.)</p> -<p class="pnext">A Nation's Hero. The Story of Israel's Exile and Return. -By S. H. MACY. With coloured Frontispiece and other Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">A Glorious Host. Sketches of Saints, Heroes, and Martyrs. -By E. B. TRIST. Illustrated.</p> -<p class="pnext">How and Where they Lived in Bible Times. By E. B. TRIST. -With eight coloured and numerous half-tone Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Our Wonderful Cathedrals. Series I. and II. By GERTRUDE -HOLLIS. With eight coloured and numerous other Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Our Wonderful Church. By GERTRUDE HOLLIS. With eight -Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Our Wonderful Faith. Papers for Children on the Apostles' Creed. -By EDWARD W. OSBORNE, D.D. With eight Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Our Wonderful Earth. By F. A. PITTS. With numerous -Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Gentle Jesus. A Book for His Little Children. By GERTRUDE -HOLLIS. With twenty-four Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Heralds of the Cross. Short Sketches of Missionary Heroes. By -E. B. TRIST. With sixteen Illustrations</p> -<p class="pnext">Some Battlefields of the Cross. Asia and some Islands of the -Southern Seas. By E. B. TRIST. With sixteen Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">More Battlefields of the Cross. In the British Empire and -Elsewhere. By E. B. TRIST (Mrs. WM. O. PIERCY). With -coloured Frontispiece and eight black and white Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Our Wonderful Bible. By GERTRUDE HOLLIS. With several -Illustrations. (The history of the Bible to the present day.)</p> -<p class="pnext">Our Wonderful Prayer Book. By GERTRUDE HOLLIS. With -Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Boys and Girls I have Known. By E. W. OSBORNE, D.D. With -coloured Frontispiece and sixteen other Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Some Wonderful Things in the Catechism. By EDWARD -W. OSBORNE, D.D. With eight Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Children's Bread. Teachings on the Church Year from Advent -to Trinity, for Sunday Scholars. By M. L. McCLURE. With -numerous Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Children's Heritage. Talks to the Church's Children on the -Church's Faith. By the Rev. G. R. OAKLEY, M.A., B.D.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Cross and the Sword. Stories of the Royal Soldier-Saints -of England. By the Rev. G. R. OAKLEY, M.A., B.D. -With eight Illustrations by W. PAGET.</p> -<p class="pnext">Crowned with Glory. Stories of the Younger Saints in the -Prayer-Book Calendar. By the Rev. G. R. OAKLEY, M.A., B.D. With -several Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Livingstone, The Empire Builder, or Set under the Cross. -By J. A. STAUNTON BATTY. With Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">A Book of Nursery Rhymes. Being Mother Goose's Melodies, -arranged in order of Attractiveness and Interest by CHARLES WELSH.</p> -<p class="pnext">By E. B. TRIST (Mrs. WM. C. PIEROT). With coloured and other -Illustrations.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">The Story of Creation.<br /> -Joseph.<br /> -Moses.<br /> -Judges in Israel.<br /> -The Patriarchs.<br /> -Elijah.<br /> -David.<br /> -Kings of Israel and Judah.<br /> -Prophets in Israel and Judah.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">The Land of Faraway, and Other Stories for Little Children. -With coloured Frontispiece and numerous other Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Teddy and the Fairy, and Other Stories for Little Children. -With coloured Frontispiece and many other Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">Old World Wonder Stories. Edited with an Introduction by -M. V. O'SHEA. With Illustrations.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Tales of Mother Goose. As First Collected by CHARLES -PERRAULT in 1696. A Translation by CHARLES WELSH. With -Illustrations.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">OLD TALES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN</em></p> -<p class="center large pnext white-space-pre-line">Adapted by C. M. DUNCAN-JONES. 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