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Show Men Marooned y ? By GEORGE MARSH i I Copyright by The Penn Publishing Co. WNU Service CHAPTER XII Continued 19 "A pood lead dog has an extra sense Instinct for a trail. Castor lias It; that's why he's our lead dog. He has brains, too." "W here's. Shot?" "Oil, he's following the shore. If he misses us, he'll circle and get our scent." "Won't he bark?" "No. he was taught not tn at night. But I nm-ii make a decision." "A decision?" "We're near the mouth of the Kapiskau. Ka-piskau. It's going to be slow work can you stand this till daylight?' "Wh:'t has that to do with the Kapiskau?" Ka-piskau?" "If you're tired too tired to go on, we can stop at the post." She caught a note almost of appeal in his voice. Too tired." she protested, "an army nurse tired when there's a patient to take care of?" "I know, but it's a bit dangerous, too." he said doubtfully. "Of course I'd like tn keep on for his sake." "Well, we'll keep on. It means making mak-ing Klkwan hours sooner, doesn't it? And that counts. I can sleep on this sled. I'm almost asleep now." "Thank you, Soldier!" he said, and stepped the team while he consulted his compass. "If I could only see that shore the boulders." Guthrie left the sled, and fastening a long rawhide thong to Castor's collar, col-lar, cried, "Haw, Castor! We're going ashore to see if we can stumble into those boulders." But leading his team and at intervals inter-vals stopping to examine the Ice from his knees, to Guthrie's surprise the dogs traveled many hundred yards without reaching the drift and the shell ice of the shore. Was he deep in the mouth of the Kapiskau? And off shore? He had been too careful to have drifted out toward Akimiskl, yet he had trawled a mile straight into the shore without hitting it. The only-possible only-possible solution was the wide mouth cf the Kapiskau and he had wished to avoid getting into the river had hoped to pass weil outside. Swinging tiie team into the northwest, he decided de-cided to travel by compass for another mile. That would bring him into the north shore. If he were inside the river month. Tt would also He looked toward the invisible figure on the sled the girl who had unreservedly unreserv-edly placed herself in his hands who had entered on this voyage of mercy, thoughtless of self. The hands Inside his mittens shut convulsively, as a warning Etienne had once given him Hashed across his memory. And he had brought her the thing most precious in the world to Garth Guthrie into this. Why had he not camped on the Big Willow? For minutes Guthrie walked ahead of his team, praying for signs in the Ice a gray blur at his feet of the proximity of the shore. Then desperate, des-perate, he stood on the tail of the sled and urged his dogs Into a trot, as he checked them from circling with the luminous dial he held In his mitten. mit-ten. For a space Castor gingerly led the team Into the black wall when through the murk sounded a brittle bark. Aroused, the yelping huskies quickened quick-ened their pace. "Shot's found the shore he smells something." cried Guthrie to the girl in front of him. "Queer, he harked, though !" Again the rough voice of the aire-riale aire-riale broke through the pit-like blackness black-ness Castor answered. With n 1r'-the 1r'-the huskies started Into a fast trot. They had not traveled a hundred yard:; when, directly in front of the invisible team, sounded Shot's raw challenge. There was an Impact of hard bodies. raster's snarl of rage. Pollux's ro:ir. followed by the bed lain of huskies fighting. Into the melee of enraged dogs tangled in their traces slid the sled. With the handle of his heavy dog-goad clubbed, the hewil-Jorcd hewil-Jorcd Guthrie r::n to the rescue of the niredale, wlio for some Inexplicable reason had attacked Castor. Mercilessly Merci-lessly swinging the heavy butt of (lie whip, calling the dogs by name, he blindly fought to free the offending Shot from the knife-like fnngs of Castor and Pollux. A heaving mass of snapping Jaws, the huskies, mad with excitement, tripped, hampered by their traces, were slashing wildly in The dark at their enemy and each o: her. At last taking a slash which rippperi the stoeve -f his p:irka as he reached In, Garth f- 't Shot's collar with one hand and lifiing tN struggling dog while he oltihht d the others Lack, oi'.'ggoil him from the milling team, -.rtouipting to follow. Castor fell mmned by a hlow on the skull, nud Guthrie was f i ee from the infuriaod team, unable, enmeshed in ti:oir traces, tc drag the sled In pursuit of the alredale who fought In Guthrie's arms to return to the battle. "Oh, what has happened?" called Joan Quarrler's frightened voice. "It was too awful. What started them?" "It's all right. I've got Shot and he's not cut much. He'll cool off in a minute. For some reason he piled into in-to Castor." "Attacked Castor?" Guthrie led his dog to the tail-of the sled where he made him fast. "Yes. he must have bowled Castor over on the run. Of course that started the team. Hut It's so dark I doubt if any of them are hurt.much. They couldn't see to strike and their traces saved shot. He's got two on the shoulder but they're not deep." The girl was off the sled and soothing sooth-ing the alredale trentbling with the heat of the fight. "I'll straighten out the dogs now. They don't care for this whip-handle." "I could hear the blows," she said. "It hurt, but I suppose it was the only way." "They'd have killed Shot, if they once got him down. I had to get him out of it quickly." Guthrie explained, and calming his excited dogs, soon had them on their feet with straightened straight-ened traces. Castor, Garth's favorite, who had taken the hulk of the blows, found the hand of his master with his tongue as he rubbed against Guthrie's leg. Garth rumpled the erect ears of the trembling C'ngava. "Poor old -hoy ! It wasn't your fault, was it, if Shot went crazy? Don't blame you a hit. old man. I had to do it, hut it's forgotten, isn't it? Yes. good old Castor!" With a pat of the massive skull. Garth went to soothe the still excited Pollux, and the rest. But all the while his brain was busy with the strange action of the airedale. They were close to the beach. Shot had found killed something, some-thing, and refused to share it with the approaching team. But why did he leave it? With Shot lashed to the tail of the sled, and the heat of the combat cooled in the blood of the huskies through, the soothing tones of the master's voice and the touch of his hand, G".thrie again called to his lead dog. "Marche, Castor!" As the sled started, the airedale broke into furious barking. Puzzled, Guthrie turned back. "What's the matter, mat-ter, Shot?" The dog was clearly excited about something. With a whimper he rose on his hind legs and pawed the man's chest in dumb attempt to communicate the reason for his protest. "What is it. old boy? What's over on that shore you don't want us to see?" "Tell me, Shot," called the girl, and the dog left Guthrie to go to her but was stopped by his leash. "It's more than queer," said Guthrie, "it's uncanny. Well, I've got to find that shore to make a fresh start. Xow, Shot, be quiet, will you?" Again the driver called, "Marche Castor!" The dogs leaned Into their collars and' the sled started, but from its tail rose the howls of the protesting Shot. "Good Lord, I've got to look into this! I'll be back shortly." And, stopping his team. Garth walked into in-to the murk. ' He had advanced but a short distance, dis-tance, doubled over the ice, feeling his way with his moccasins, when he stopped, .as a chill, like the touch of a cola wind, cut through him. "Tide crack !" he gasped. Within a step of the gray blur of ice on which he stood, a black streak, fading into the enveloping gloom, barred his way. "We're in the river mouth . . among the tide cracks Etienne warned me! Shot old Shot, God bless him he knew! Shot's actions were clear enough now. Coming upon the open water toward which the sled was hurrying, the airedale had returned on the bound, barking a warning as he came. Then, as the dogs came on at a trot, Shot had catapulted Into Castor, starting start-ing a fight and stopping the sled. Stunned, struck with remorse, Guthrie crouched on the lip of the gash in the river Ice, into which dogs, sled all of them, would have blindly plunged but for Shot's mad attack on the team. To have led her to this a hideous death with the dogs drawn under by the drug of the sled. And Ktienne had warned him of the tide cracks in the river mouths. He had intended nuiking a wide swing around the Kapiskau. hut In his search fur the beach, hail entered the river. Hut Shot, staunch old warrior that he was. had through some uncanny instinct sensed their danger and taken the only method of stopping the team. Putting her trust in Garth Guthrie. Shot had saved her. He turned hack lo the team, thrilled with pride in the dog who worried at his leash. The love of the man for his dog had been cemented by yet one more bond. Shot had saved her for Garth Guthrie! "What did you find?" she asked as he reached the sled. "I learned that we'll have to hack-track hack-track straight east," he said calmly: "Why. aren't we heading for the shore?" "Yes. but we've got to get out of this river. When I strike the sca-ice. I'm going to circle, hit the coast, and give you some rest." "Bat we ought to keep on." "Not in this blackness. It's as thick as Flemish rain in March. I've g t to lead the team." he dhl not add, watch f"r water ahead." Culeashing Shot, whom he hag.;od as he mumbled for a space into n hairy ear. Guthrie sent the airedale out as an advance patrol. lie had found water once, be would Cud it again If they stumbled tipon another tide crack. Leading Castor on a leash, he started straight east fur the sea-Ice. For an hour they walked, Shot ranging ahead while Guthrie, bent forward, for-ward, eyes on the Ice and his compass com-pass dial, cautiously followed. Fearful of not yet having cleared the river month, he led his dogs for another hour, then circled into the northwest and found the shore above Kapiskau. There he fed his dogs, cut willow and alder, and with his cedar kindling got a fire going to boil the kettles. As soon as it lightened enough to follow the coast, they would start afresh for F.lkwan. After the Kapiskau, the ten-mile ten-mile delta of the Atlawapiskat was not to be thought of. As Joan Quarrier s.at by the comforting com-forting heat in the willow thicket. Guthrie told her the story which he had kept from her while he groped through the water traps of the river mouth. She sat with parted lips, her serious seri-ous eyes suspiciously bright, as Garth explained why Shot had hurled himself him-self on the team. "And you never told me what you found when you left us!" "Why scare you? It was bad enough as it was." She shook her head in protest. "You call me a soldier, and treat me as a woman." "Yon are a woman to me too precious to take out on a night like this and drive into a tide crack." he replied, watching the light of the fire play on her brooding eyes. For answer she called: "Come here, Shot to me. I want to kiss you." The airedale rore, stretched, yawned, and wagged his way to her. mmmA mm "Gut I Almost Lost You. "There," I'll never forget what you did tonight. You deserve the V. C." With a grunt. Shot thrust his nose toward her hood. "Look out, he's trying to return the kiss," warned the man who envied his dog. Her white teeth flashed in amusement. amuse-ment. "You may, Snotty, on the cheek, for you're a brave and gallant gentleman." "And the other brave and gallant gentlemen are they to be ignored? Aren't Castor and Pollux, and their brave and gallaut master, to share in your salute, oh, mon general?" "This general decorates but one hero tonight and that is Shot," she replied archly. "His devotion has been proved." "And mine?" She would not meet his eyes. "Oh, my friend," she parried, "we have work before us a bitter fight for the life of a brave man. Why think of ourselves?" In the lee of the sled, tipped on its side, its canvas cover stretched above her like a shed tent to reflect the heat of the fire, Joan Quarrier slept, warm in her robes, until waked by the cracking of the fire at dawn. "Good morning. Healer of Wounds. The tea is almost ready; the bacon done; the bread cut. Will you wash your face and hands in the snow, and partake of the bourtties set before you on these beautiful .plates of tin?" Through sleepy eyes the girl smiled up at the man who had labored for her comfort. "You are very good to your passenger. Mr. Exile. I shall recommend this line to all who contemplate con-template a night voyage up this coast." "We ought to make Elkwan by noon. I wonder what we'll find." he said, pouring the hot tea. "Whatever we find. Ma J. Garth Guthrie, you have squared your debt. No man could have done more for his friend." "But I almost lost you " "That would have been the fortune of war." "And the irony of fate, with Etienne and pc.or Gnlbrailh waiting up there at Elkwan for two who never came." CHAPTER XIII At noon, that day. a lone figure stood in the- snow on the clearing at F.lkwan and sen relied the river-ice below the post. With a dubious shake of the head. Etienne returned to Old Anne and his wife, waiting in i iurkric's quarters. "Vcr' black night; harl to follow di shore. Something ha.rip- ti to M'sieu Guthrie. Mchhe do ;;;:) r.ot co ue wid kcem." "She crea-e.'- in- i-td Old Anne. "Shi cone w'en he r.sk. She enm:' " 1 "Dirt McDonar. he ver' tk niau She brceng de med-ceene eef sh rtn. I go an' have n look at de trail." Again Etienne stood on the cliff above the white Elkwan and watched for the moving spot on the Ice, which would mark the approaching team. Disappointed, he was about to return to the women in, the house when his keen eyes suddenly lit with excitement. excite-ment. Far on the white shell of the river seemed to move a black spot. For a space the half-breed studied the barely distinguishable object. Then he trotted to the quarters. "Dey come'" he cried to the waiting women. "De? turn de becg islan'." When the huskies that had traveled forty miles since daylight drew In to the cliff trail at a slowtwalk, Guthrie hurried to the waiting Etienne with the demand : "You got him here? He's alive?" The half-breed nodded, then with a wide grin turned to the girl on the sled. '"Alio! You welcome to Elkwan, ma'"'selle !" as lie assisted her out of the robes. "I'm mighty glad to see you, Etienne. Eti-enne. How are Marie and the chicks, and dear Old Anne?" "Oh, ver' fine, t'anks. You have hard ride las' night?" Joan and Garth exchanged smiles. "We surely did." replied Guthrie. "We camped at the Kapiskau." "At de Kapiskau?" Guthrie's thoughts were of the man at his quarters and he did not explain. ex-plain. With Joan and Savanne he hurried hur-ried across the clearing. "Well?" he questioned, as the army nurse finished taking the pulse and temperature of the man whose rough breathing filled the room. Without answering she placed her ear to the broad chest of the man muttering in delirium. After a space she turned to the waiting Guthrie with puzzled eyes. "I don't quite understand. Pulse almost normal, temperature only 101. respiration not high, and yet he's developed de-veloped pneumonia in one lung. I can easily hear the rdes!" "You mean he has beaten the flu?" "I think so; he's so strong. But pneumonia " "It hits the big men hardest," he said gloomily. Joan gave the patient a hypodermi-of hypodermi-of strychnia and left the room to make some gruel. "Craig Galbraith Laughing McDonald" Mc-Donald" mused Guthrie aloud. "You gave all you had for Canada, and now Canada hunts you because a woman without eyes could see only your scars." On her return with the nourish meat, Joan found Guthrie still gazing with somber eyes at his frieud. With her well-equipped medicine kit, and her wide experience with influenza in-fluenza and pneumonia cases in the army, Joan Quarrier gave immediate battle for the life dependent on her care. But the problem confronting Guthrie was more complex. What was to become of Galbraith if he lived'. Cameron would waste no time in lal;, ing possession of the schooner and it.-valuable it.-valuable cargo, which he would hold for the disposition of the authorities at Ottawa. But the schooner and cargo car-go belonged to the estates of the dead men. McDonald was officially dead. He, a hunted man, could not claim it. Who, beside his wife, were his heirs? Garth did not know. Then Cameron had said the police were coming shortly to the bay in search of the man who called himself McDonald. Failing to find McDonald V body, which Garth said he had seei on the boat, they would naturally come to Elkwan to talk to the man who brought the news to Albany. If Craig lived, he would be weeks In bed, recovering his strength. Where could they hide a man needing con stunt care if a police dog-teara ap peared on the ice below the post? Eti enne could be hustled into bed ami bandaged to corroborate the story told to Cameron, but Galbraith what ot him? Accessory though it made liiin to the crime of his friend, the grax eyes of Guthrie hardened at tin thought of Galbraith. V. C, Galbraith the trench-raider, whose name was known the length of the British front, being hounded down In his dire extremity. ex-tremity. Garth laughed as he pictured the police attempting to take Laugh ing McDonald on his schooner in tin fullness of his strength McDonald Ha! Ha! and the hearded mate who limped, with Lewis guns and the snipers' rifles they had slept with for four years. And Joan he had made her an accessory ac-cessory as well; asked her to nuns? a man she knew, now. was wanted for murder. How was he to square his conscience with that? To pay his debt to Galbraith he not only had asked her to throw her reputation tn the winds, but to defy the law Joan Quarrier. who had stepped into his life to become his world. (TO BE CONTINUED.) |