h I Silver By REX BEACH X ,COI' Y It ICIIT. luou. nY ciiaiteh ill. mill: girl dnrled n swift look nt llojd. tillt liu fell In brissllng ngulti. evidently Insensible lo her presence. At length he stirred himself to ttok: "Can I hire guide hercnboul? We'll huxe to In going on In n day or m." "Cnnstmitlne Mill get you one. 1 suppose, of course, you Mill avoid the Knlinnl puss?" "Avoid It ? Why?" "It's dangerous, ntnl nobody travel It except In thr direst emergency U'n lllllcll I lie shortest route to llm const, hut It hn a record of soma thirty deaths. I should ndvlo jou to cross thu rouge further enst. where Ihe ill vide I lower Tho iiinll lont louche nt ImiIIi places." Oil tln following morning Cherry lull! Cnustnnllne lo hllrli up her Icmn ntnl have It walling when breakfast wa finished. Then "lit' liirni'il lo Km ersou. xxlm on hid Into thu room nml snld qulctlyi "I hnxo something t' sboxv yon If you will take n short ride with mo." Tho jouug mini, Impressed by the gravity of her manner, readily on Rented. Cimtanilu fri'itl l In lender, nml they went on" nt n mud run. They skimmed over thu snow with tho flight of n liltil. The jouug mnn gave himself tip to Hit- unique nml rnihrr delightful ex perience of being irmiHiriiil through mi unknown roiiiury to nn unkiiiixvit destination tiy n rhnrinlnic Klrl of wliuiu In hIo knexv iinihliiK "Yesterday )oii seemed lo Ih taken hy tho fishing buslnc." she flnnlly Milt. "I certainly win until you loM tup there were no cannery lle left." "There l one. When I ralne here n yenr ngn the xxlmlr rlxer urn open. no on mi outside clinnro I locntiil site, thr best ono nvnlluhln. When Willi Mnn.ll learned of It ho took tip nil of tin remaining plneci ami. nl thoiich nt tin limp I linil no Men what 1 won going lo do with my property. I hung on to It." "1 can't hoy your Rite." "Nolxsjy asked you to." Rhe Rmllrd "I wouldn't pcII It to you If )ou liil rVt. V ToonrtirntHrir wbiiimi Tint uk ami hUHVMMI IMK MUMIuUMil.SUfc. I tic money, lull If jou will build n rminery mi It I'll turn lit tho ground for hm Interest." I.'iihixui imnlltHlrd n moment (lien replied. "I i-Mii'l y ) or im W ii pretty hlK priMwoii- J'.'dO.ixMI. )ou , iwhir' "Ytm. U'n n lilic opimrlunliy. Von mil vlemi up KM) per cent Hi n Jittt I)n you think you rotild ruUe tin money lo tmlld n ptHiiilr" "I inlKlit." ho mi Id enuiloUNly. "At Ii'iimi oii t'ltii iry'" "llm I iliHi'i know Hiiythlut; ntHiui the IiiimIiiiwh " "I've ilmiifln of nil (lint, mid there' n Miy lo liwke itureeM reriMlu I l llevo you lime extviitlu uhllliy nud CNtl liuuille lliwe men." "Oh. yen. I've dono Hint nort of thluic" IIU lirond Khoiililent went up ii h he drew ii Ioiik lireulli. " Iihi'h tj your pliiuV" '"lUere'H n mnn down tho rn'itK. fiiKiiiii' Hull, who known more nhout ' thufiiUNluoHH IIiiiii ituy four people In Krtlik. He illncuveriil (lit) Knlvlk '.Nfi,,' Imlll iho llrxt euuiiery heie nud Mtyt lit foreuinu tint II ho ipiurieled with Mnrxh Unit Inu't the kind of mnn to lie dlxolplllleil, mo, not hiivliiK ciioiikIi uioiiey lo hulld u ennnory, he took lilt Hcnnty mpliul nud Htnrlrd n Hitltery on hi own nccount. Mnrnli ' broke (leorKe In u yenr, rtilnetl him, utterly wiped him out, Just nn he In , lendM tn wlpo hut ImilKUlllrniit me. 'i'hlnkltiK to recoup hh forluueH, OeorKO , ciiino Imok lulu I'ltmp. but he owiui n vnliuihle trnp Klto whleli MnrHh mid Ills collencueH wnut, mid before they ' would kIvo him work they tried to ninko him minimi It to them and enn trnct never lo go In bus I lien a on Ida own nccount. Naturally acoro ro fuied. IIo'r been starvlni; now for two year. "No mao darei to furnlib food to Horde I Author ol Tim Spolleri" nd Tji llMrler" II A It PCX t n HO Tilt It J .,. (Iforuo Unit: no mnn dnren to ictra lillu n bill; no cnuuery will lt hlin work. Il linn to luko n dory to Dutch llnrlior lo tfPt food II" doexu't dure lentu tfco couuiry mid nlmniliiii the meiicer IhuiixmiiN he hint Invented In biilldlmrii. nud every miminer when the run Htiirm lie coinei ncrornt the mnriheit mid rdlukN nlMiut the Knlvlk Ihlcketii like n wrnllh. wnlcliluc from nfnr Jnnt In order lo be near II all Up utmiiln nlolie mid fornnkeu, InirkliiK lo tho clunk of mnrhliivry, every IriIi of which Ii" pluced, wnlehlliK hl ciienilrn enrich Iheumelvini from Hint clcnmlnix llrer army, which he con Rider hh very own. Ik1 I Miuuued like n leper Kotuu tllilo I belle u he will kill Miirnh." "llm ml Ono riimiii to be forever croiuiliiK Ihe trull of lliln Mnmli." nn.d llnyil. who linil llnleueil Intently. "The man who befllN Mnrxli will htmt done miuelhllii:." Hlie ptiuacd Hull H Id dellbermely. "And I belle c you tire Ihe one lo do II " They linil renrhed Ihelr denllliiillon -ihe moulh of n dii-p creek, up which Cherry turned her doi:i. Iluiernon leaped from the hIc.I miiiI. ruutlluic for ward. m'IunI the liuder. I'UldlliK It Into n clump of nprure. nuwilij; the bolr of whli Ii he IiiiikIiiI the hnruewi, for llllt li'HIll whn like n Hck of wolte rhveiinu for triMcl uinl Intnlirniit of the leanti. ToBeiber they nrendii1 the bnnl: nml nre)iil the NtirrouiidliitM. Cherry et (hiIIhiIiik iihiii i'Iit) fcHlure with the fen or of n IhiiiI iiceiit belli on wenv Iiik bit npell hImiiii n priH'ilve Imjcr And In truili tie hud choieu well, for Ihe ti tut II Ioiim deemed Idertl. "I'te watched )ou. mid I know you nrp down on jour luck for koiiip ren on." the plrl mild. "Vou'ie Imi-ii mitt cnt mimehow. nud Juil'te Imd thr heart tnkrn out of you. but I'm mire lf In you lo Mircprd. for you're younir and IntelllKPtit, cool and dcft-ruilm-d I mn kIvIiir jou thU chnncp lo piny Hip tdKret KnillP of J our life mid mix1 In rlcht hort inonth exery irnrp of fnllurr. I'm not dolliK II alloKcther iiurlfliihly. for I liellptp you'p Im-pii nil to Knlvlk lo work out your own nlrntlon mid inlup and that of poor (Jrorpp Halt, whom you'vr nevrr aecn You'rp Kotnt; to do thin thing, and yuu'rr ciilnc lo mnkp It win." Kmrrxio rruclird out InipuUlvcly and cnuclit hrr tiny, inlttrun) band. IIIh pyrti wrrp ihlnlnjr: hi facn had lout the frilled look of drjrctlon and wa all kIow with a urw dawn of hope. Cvrn hi nhouldcr were llflrd nnd thrown buck n If from omr midden ncrr of vigor ihat llclitrnrl hi bur den. "You're rlBliir Up ld firmly. "We'll -tnl for Hull tonlKht." Ill Ihp dyi Hint followed Chrrry wn nt llo)d'R cIIhiw (iniNtniilly. nld Iiik him nt every lum In hi pl lo ncitlre n kiiowletlKe of the rminery .tli'm. The old rotnlctlou crew ummi her Hint he wrh workliiK RKMltit time, that there wnm n limit to Id ertil of netlnll. for he teemed oIhmwhiI bl all ever KHiWlUK HmIoii In NritimplUll wnne end within H pleii time mid bad no Ihoiueht for miythlnK bejnml the t'lmriwuluic luiie Into which be Imd plilliBcd She whh dumfounded by tit- midden trHiufnrniHtliin mid delighted ut Mmt. but Inter, when hIih mw that he reirarili'd her only n n tiieflii to mi eml. hi cool Rumumpiloti of leader fillip phpteil her nud flie felt hurt. founiMuilue Imd Ihh'u Kent for Itall with luirucilotiM to keep on until he found the iMierumu eeu If the ipnwl earrtiMl him oter Ihe rouse OurlHK Ihe iltiyt of Impatient WMlilna; llw.v oc cuplcd Ihelr lime iHrttely In recouunl let Iiik tin nearent eannery. wrtHlloH lo k oer whleli Cherry had wenr! from ihe wnlebtUHU, who whh ludebtisl to her The mnn wn timid itt II rut. but i:uifrou won1 him oxer, then pro hi did to puiiii him dry of luform.i lliiu, it he Imd dune with hi Inwtow I'rHHer looketl on In bewilderment nt the cIihuho In llmeomu "Wlmt Imvo jou dune to 'I'nwen Aiinler " he iiHkeil Cherry on one oc ciinIoii. "Yon miiHi lime fed him n Kpettl hall, for I never niiw ii guy Ktwr up wi fHHi. Why, he wh the durudeNt imp' ImiiKer I ever met till jou pit hint KltiKcied up lie didn't hnvo no more ijplrlt Itiwn n nick kit ten." I'niRtT then eyed the Klrl keenly "Tills Ik ii lonely plHce for u wotllHU like you." ho wild, "and our muiintl friend ii In' t nltoHether uuiitirncltM'. eh" Cherry'u cheekd limned, but her lone wits ley. "Thin U entirely it bUHlne mutter." "IIiii-iii! nln't never hennl you touted none uh ii buslueH woman," wild the adventurer "Have you ever heard tm" the cob or faded from the clrl'x fitee, nml It wan n trllle drawn "dlHousxed In any way?" "You know, Umerxon tnnkes me tin coin f mlii hie HometltueM, he Ih ho d d moral," Kroner replied Indirectly "lie won't maud for iiuyihliiK on color. Ile'ti a real Hipmre uuy, Im In, tho kind you reud nbotii." "You didn't atiHwer my question," luslxtcd Cherry AbiiIu Kroner evaded the Irruo. "Now, If this Miii-hIi kIii! after you lu enmeRt thin mitnnier why don't ynu let ' mo Rilvk nroutid until nprlntt nnd look. out your crime? I'll drop n monkey I wrench In hi earcaneor pill n Nplder in hi dimipllNK. nnd It' morn tlinn I an ereu hot Hint If him mid I ct I lu know enrh other rllit well I'd own III i-iiliiiery befoie fall." '.'Tliunli you; enn tnlio care of my- Ni-lf." Knld Hie Klrl. i I. lite ono htormy iilk'lit-Coiintnnllnn hud been K'Hie n week tho two men ' whom they wero expeclliiB blew lu llirmiuli Hie IdlndliiK Rtnotlipr. IhiU refiineil rent or iiourlxhinent until Im j had learned why Cherry linil netif for him. A briefly n ponilhle i.e outlined Him Rltuntlon Itoyd l!mtron 'aw n liuite. bnrrul rheNted crenturo whimo treiileudou mtlRcle blllucd bo li en III hi uolidrncrlpt Knruieiit. wliixe nil. upNlnudliit; hrltl of hair topped n lenther couuieuiiuco from which Kleniued n pair of thu inoxt violent eye KmerRou hint eii-r Ix-beld. the domi nant exprrioiloti of which wa tnti III oli-o wa liiinrno with Ihe eclio of drummliiK rnlllne. lie inlulit hum lived forty, nlstjr yenr. but every rnr had Ih-cii (jlvi-n to the en; It fonmlnif violence wa In hi IiIimnI. A the nlKiilfleniiro of Cherry' word ink Into hi mind Iho rIkii of an uu- nvitw. "I l.t. OIVI! MT l.irK T'l IT" holy Joy oterpreil Ihe fluhertnRn'R tlHHKe. mid hi liulry n coutluueil lo open ntnl iliwe huuxrtly. Mid )ou nuwtn blilllew7" Iip bellow, iil hi i:inerou. "Can jou nuhtV -y e " "ThU cans won't atop nt nnytlilnt:." nnrniil ItulL "Neither will I," nUlrtned the other, with n ncowI and n dnuecrou down draw Iiik of hi lip corner. "I've cot to win. ro don't wato any time won derlug how far I'll pa. What I want lo know I If you will Join my enter. prl " "I'll kIv my life to It." "I knew you would." flashed Cherry "And If wp don't bent Willi Manh. by clory. I'll kill hlmr Halt shouted, fully cnpnblo of enrrytne out hi threat, for hi bloodbot eye were tit with btlter hatred. Turn In to the Klrl, he nld: "Now clve me oturthloir to eat I've been Urine on dusfliu till my belly I full of (Mine." Lour nfter Cherry Imd pne to bel he hrnrd the murmur of ihelr voice. "If nil nrrnnccd." they advlm-d her at Ihe brenkfnt table. "Wo leave to morroxv " "Tomorrow T' nhe echoel blankly. "We Mart lu the morntnj;. Wo have no time to wate." She felt ii midden dread nt her heart. What If I hey failed ami did mt re turn? What If Mime untoward peril leuitd oxertake them uu the outward trlp It wit n uauinlmt Jiwrimy. ami Ceorite Hull xxii., the IlloNt rctkleM iniin on the HerlHB cimt. I'merMin' uet word adileil to her nlarm: "We'll ettlcli the mall boat nt Knt mnl." "Kalinni:" he tiroke lu Rhnrply. "You Mild jou were uoltiK b.v the Ilium na rente " ShV tunu-d uu Hull nnrt ly. "You kuow iN'ttrr thau to iiKit Rtich n thliiK" "I didn't Kiiiniixl It." Mid Halt. "Il'x Mr. ICuienMu'H imii Ideti; he limUtH." "I kh.ill ! dreadfully wurriiil unlit I know jou ar itafely over." mM tUe Ctrl, a new note of xvUtful teudcriuw lu her voice. "NoniuMine! We've all taken blicner rUk- before." "Ihi jou Isnow," she lMBan hwdint ItiKly. "I've Im-cii thluklUK that ht Imp juu'il better not tuko up thU euterprie after all." "Why noli" he naked, with hii In crediiloii htnro. "I HiouKht you xvora cnihUNlitNtk' on Hie ubjevt." "I mn I believe lu the proposition thoroimhly." Cherry IIiiiiuhI on, "but well, I WHf entirely Kclllxh In m'ttltHJ jou vtarted, for It pomtlhly iihkiii my OWIl KtlVHllOII, littt" "It's my hiht ehmice nlo," lloyd broke In "A few days nao you were it Rtraniter: now jnu nre-n friend," who nnld nteitd Hy "One'rt likes and dislike uroxv rapidly when they nre not choked by convent Ion. I like you too well to neu j-ou do till. You nre too pHxl u mnn, lo become the prey of llioso penple Itememlier CeorKu Hall." "Ikilt liHMn't htartel yet. I'or tho llrt time he U n nml menace to WIIIU Miindi." "Won't you take my ndvlce nnd re NuislderJ" ursed the jjlrl "I.Uteu." mi Id the youtiK mnn. "I cttmo lo thin country with n deflulto purixeio lu mind, nud I had three yenm In which to xvork It out. I needed uiouey-Ood. how I neiHlwl money! They tuny talk about the emptiness of riches and tell you Hint men labor not for the kill,' but for the pursuit; not for Ihe score, but for the contest. Maybe Rome of them do, but with me It was Ktild I needed, cold I had to hiive, nud I didn't care much hoxv I cot It bo Ioiik na 1 roi It honestly I focused every power ukiu my desire, but a cups' was on me it curse, iioHiIiik les At first t look mlfor tunc phlloRophlcnlly, but when It came nud slept with mo I beRnn to mo nt It. It wa terrlfyliiR Iicciuiro my lime wn slinrteiiliii. nml ihe lnt lny of KMre wn rushlUK lownrd mo. ".lust to shoxv you xvlmt luck I piny- ed lu. ill iMWRfill I found It liroHpcel Hint would hnve made moil men rich, nnd. nllhoiiuh riicIi a lliluc had never hnppeiicd In Hint locality before. II pinched out. I tried mrnln nnd fiRnln, nnd ll'inlly found nnother mine, only lo be roblH-d of It by the Cnnndlnn law In such n mnnner thnt there wn not thr fnlritet hope of my ever re rorrrlnu the property I finally Rhlfted from mtuliiff to other teuturc. nnd the town burned. I nwoke In n mid lilnlit bllranrd to see my chance for a fortune licked up by tliime. while tho hi of Ihe water from the firemen' hose Reemcd directed nt inn, nnd Ihe voice of the crowd Rounded like Jeer. "I wn ninoiiK the first at Nome and staked ttloiiKslde the dlscoxl-rcr who undertook to put me In rluhl for onco; but. nllhoUKh the fellow iiround me mnile fortuiHit In a dny. my ground wn barren nnd my bedrock sxvept clean by that unseen bund which I nlwiiy fell, but could never avoid Onco n broken Rtiowshoe In a rncp to the recorder' oilieo lost me n for tune: nt nnother time n corrupt Judge plunged mo from certnlnly to desimlr. mid nil Iho xvhlle my lime wn rtoxv Iiik shorter nnd I was growing issiri-r Two hour nfter tho Topknk strike wns iiiflde I drove past the shaft, but Hie one psrtticr known lo me Imd gone lo the inlilii lo build n fire nud the other one lied to me. thinking I wn n stranger. I heard nflcrxvnrd thnt Just n I droxe nwny my friend cniiw to the door nnd culled nfter me. but the day xva bitter, nnd my enr xvere niuftli-d with fur. xvhlle the dry smur IsMienlh the runnera ahrlekeil so Hint It drowned hi crle. He chasjil mo for half n mile lo tnnku me rich, but the timid of fain lashed my dog faster nnd faster, while that hellish screech ing outdlnncd Jd voire. Klx hour Inter Topkuk xvn history. Y'ou've aeon MtmnHles jnn understand. "My name became n byxvord nml rntiMsl pisjplo to laugh, though they lirntik from me. for miners nml Mil iar are equally superstitious. No man ever had more opKirtuullle than I. nud no man wa ever so miserably unfortunate In missing them. In time I lieeame ulilppnl, utterly without hope. Yet almost from habit I fought on mid on xvlth my ears deaf to the voices that mocked me. "And something tell me thnt I hnve left that III omened thing behind nt last, nnd I mn going to wlnl" "Hut you're too late." suggested Cherry. "You nay your time wn up tome time ago." "Perhaps." he returned, staring Into tho distances. "Tbnt'a what I waa going out to ascertain. I thought I might have n few dnya of grace allow, nl rue. That'a why I enn't quit, now that you've set roe in motloo ngaln. now that you've given me another chance. That'a why we leave tomor row and go by way of the Kattual pass." CnAPTKIt IV. 1 CIIINO the evening Hmerson I J I left the txx-o other men In Ihe III store, and. seeking Cherry out J In the little uirlor. nuked tier to piny for him. Again the blend ing of their volet- brought them closer, ids aloofnpss wore off, and ho twetnne an agreeable, neeompllshed comiMiilon xvhoe merry wit and boy tli symitflthy stirred emotions In the slrl that threatened her peace of mlml. It xxas their Inst hour together U'fore embarking on his perilous Jour ney In search of the golden tleece. mid hi starved affection clamored for rymiMthy. xvhlle the Iron In hb IiIwhI felt the magnetic propinquity of sex. for her tart. she lay awake far Into lite morning hours, now bllfully Moating on the current of lint f formexl desire, noxv vaguely fearing wine dread thnt clutched her. The giMHlbys xxere brief and com monplace. There was lime for noth ing more, for the dints were straining to bt off and the December Mir bit fiercely. Hut Cherry called Kmersou aside nnd Ih n rnilier iromulou xolce bi-ggiM lilm again to consider xvell till enterprise before Anally eotiiuilitlug himself to It "If this were nny other coiititrj'. If there xvere any law up here or any certainty of getting a square deal I'd never say n wonl; I'd urge you to go the limit. Hill" lie w r about to laugh off her fears. ns he had done ttefore. xvheu the plain ilvu xvrlukle between her broxvs nud "OOODDYl THAT'S MV ANBWKn." tho forlorn droop of her lips stayed him. Without thought of conse quences and prompted largely by his Icnplng spirits, ho stooped and, before she could divine his purpose, kissed her "Ooodby." ho laughed, with dancing eye. "That's my answer!" And the next second ho wn at tho sled. Tho dogn leaped at hi shout, and tho cnviil cade xvns In motion. Hut the girl stood wllltmit Round or gesture, bareheaded under Ihe wintry sky, n Rtnrtled. wondering light In her eye which did not fade until tho men wero lost to view tnr up the river trail. Then she breathed deeply nnd turned Into the house, oblivion to Constan tino mid the young squnxr, who held the lck bnby up for her Inspection. The hazards of winter travel In the north are manifold nt best, but th country which Kmerson and hi con (Minion had to trnverso wns purlieu Inrly perilous- owing to ihe fnct that their course led them over tho back bone of the great Alaskan rnnge. thnt desolate, skyscraplng rampart which Interposes Itself between the hnte of Ihe arctic sea and the tossing wilder ness of Hie north I'acinc. A week of hard travel found the party camped In the last fringe of Cottonwood that fronted the glacial slope, their number augmented now by a native from a Itusslan village with nn unpronounceable name, who, nt the price of an extortionate bribe, had agreed to pilot them through. For j three day they Iny Idle, the tnut walla of their tent thrumming to an Inces sant fusillade of Ice particle that whirled down ahead of the blast, while Kmerson fumed to be gone. Tho fourth morning broke still nnd quiet, but after a enrcful scrutiny of the peak the IndUn shook hi head nnd spoke to Hult, who nodded In agreement. "What's tho matter?" grow hi Hm erson. "Why don't xve get under way?" Hut Ihe other replied: "Not today. Them tip nre smok ing, see!" lie Indicated certain gauzy streamers that floated like vapor from tho highest pinnacles. That's snoxv, dry snow, nud It shoxvs thai Hie wind Is bloxxlug up there. We dtiMcnt tackle It." "Do you mean we roust lie here wait ing for nn absolutely calm day?" "Hxactly." "Why. It may be n xreck!" "It may be txvo of them: then, ngaln. It may be all right tomorroxv " "Nonsense! Tbut breeze xvon't hurt anybody." "Hri-ezer Halt laughed. "Iff more like n tornado up yonder. No; we've Just got to take It easy till the right moment comes and then make a dasb. It's thirty miles to the nearest stick of timber, nnd once you get Into the pass you can't slop till you're through." The next dnwo showed the mountain peaks limned like clean cut Ivory against the steel blue sky, and as they crept up through the defiles the air was so motionless that the smoke of their pipes hung about their heads, while the creak of their soles upon the dry surface of the snow roused echoes from ihe walls od either side. At first their progress was rapid, but In tlmo tbe drifts grew deeper and they came to bluffa where they were forced to notch footholds, unpack their I load and relay It to tbe top, then free me dog and oaul trie sled up wan a rope hand over band. It wns early In the afternoon when the Indian stopped aud began test ing the air. "Keel like wind." said Halt, with a shake of his head. The native begnn to chatter excitedly, and as they stood there a chill draft funned their cheek. Little xxIm of snoxv vapor ' begun to dance upon ihe rklgea. whisk Ing out of sight as suddenly as they appeared. They lMmue con c Ions of n sudden fall In the temperature and I they kuexv that the cold of Interstellar j smce dwelt Jn that ghostly breath xvhh-h smote "them. Hefure they xvere ; xvell nwure of the omlnou slgtiltl- canee of these sign the storm xvus Uhiu tin-in, sweeping through the chute xx herein they stood xvlth rapklly j Ini-riHtslug violence. The terrible un j seen Imnd of the frozen north hud tin- leashed Its brood of furle, nud the 1 ulr rung with their hideous cries. There was no question of facing the 4 wind, for It was more cruel than the lleree breath of nn uien furnace sear lug the tlesh like u Hume. All ihe morning the air Imd hung In ierfect polne, but some change uf teniernture tixvuy out' over one of the rival ocean bad UnsC the uurostHtU b I u nce. mid the wind tore through this gnp like the torrent beloxv u bro ken tvtervotr. Halt cttirie close to Kmersen nud .bel lowed Into his ear: "What shall-we do? Holl up in the bedding or rnu'for It?" "How far Is It'to timber?" "Txvolve prjtlfteen miles." "Les run for It! ' We're out of grub, anyhow, und this may last for day a." There xvns no use of trying to secure Additional clothlug from the supply lu' J lie sled, so they abandoned their out fit uud allowed themselves tn be driven ((lhend of the storm, trusting to the native's sense of. direction and keeping close together. The dogs xvere already well drlfu-d over mid refused lo stir. Once, they had gone it stone's throw 'from ihe slcil there was uo turning back, mid, although the wind was be Jdijd them, progress xvns dlillcult, for they came upon chasms which they hud to avoid; they crossed slippery slopes where the storm bad bared the hard crust nnd which their feet re fused to grip. Iu such places they had to creep on hands nnd knees, call Ing to one nnother for guidance. They were numbed, blinded, vGoked by the rage of the blizzard; their faces grew stiff nnd their lungs froze. At times they fell nnd were- skidded along abend of the blasts. This forced them to crawl back ngaln, for they dared not lose their course. Much has been written concerning the red man's physical powers ;of cn durnuce, but as a rule no Indian Is the equal of his jwblte brother, due as j much perhaps to lack of mental force ! as to generation of Insufficient cloth . Ing mid Innnlllou, so It wn not sur ' prising thnt a Ihe long nflrrooon 1 dragged to n lose the Aleut guldo be gan lo weaken. I Dnrknes found Ihetn staggering on, t upKirtlng t) 1 in wherever polble. At length he became unable lo guide them farther, and Halt, who had onco mndo fhe trip, took his place, while the oth ' ers dragged the xxir creature nloug at Hie rosi of their precious strength. They hnd long since lost nil trnck of time nnd plnre. trusting blindly to a , downward course The hunrlcnno ' still hurried them with unnbnted fury, when nil at once Hii-y came to another bluff where Hie ground fell away abruptly. Without waiting to Investi gate whether Ihe slope terminated la a drift or a prerlpnre. they flung them selves over. Down they floundered, the two hnlf sensible men tnngled to gether n If In a race for total oblivion, only lo plungo through a thicket of willow top thnt whipped and stung them. On they went, now vastly heart ened, over another ridge, down an other declivity, nnd then Into a grove of spruce timber, where the nlr sud denly stilled, nnd only tho treetops told I of the rushing wind nbovo. j It wn well nigh nn hour before nlt j and Kmerson succeeded In starting a I tire, for It wa desperate work groping , for dry branches, and they themselves I wero on Ihe verge of collate beforo 1 iho timid blaze finally showed tho i two moro unfortunate ones huddled to gether. Cherry bnd given Hmerson n Cask; of liquor before starting, and this ho noxv divided between I'raser and Uio guide, having wisely refused It t them until shelter was secured. Then he melted snoxv tn Halt's tin cup and poured pints of hot water Into the pair until the adventurer began to rally, but tho Aleut xvns too fur gone, mid an hour before the laggard dawn cams he died. Tho day was well spent when they struggled Into Kntmal and plodded up to n half rotted log store, A globular quarter breed Ituslan trader took them In nnd administered to their most cry ing needs. As soon as Emerson was able to talk be Inquired concerning tbe mall boat "She called here three days ago, bound west." said the trader. "That's all right. She'll be back la about a week, ebf "She won't stop coming back." "What!" Emerson fell himself sick ening. "No: she won't call here till next month, and then If It's storming shell go on to tbe westward and laud on her way baik." "Uow long will that be?" "Maybe seven or eight weeka," In bis weakened condition ibe youn man groped for the eouuter to support himself. So tbe storm's delay at the foot of the pass bad undone hi ox I Fate. In the pilse of winter, bad usv furled those floating snow banaera from the mountain peaks to thwart him once more! Out of consideration for hi compan ions Emerson did nut acquaint them, with the evil tldlncs until the next. 1 morning; moreover, be wu swallowedt i up In black despair and bad uo heart , left In him for any further exertion. , He bad allowed tbe Itusslan to show him to a bed. ukiu which he dung him- ; self, half dressed, while the others fob lowed suit. Emerson fell Into a deep sleep, and It was late tn the day w!hh be awoke, ' every muscle. selling, every Joint stitr, every step attended with pain. He found hi companions up and already breakfasted. Htg Oeorge me the worse . fur his ordeal, while Fraser, bandaged I aud smarting, was his okl shrexvd self. "Have you heard about the mall boat?" asked Emerson. , "No " "We've mltwed her." ( "What d'ytm menu?" demanded Dig I Course Waukly. "I mean that that storm delayed us j Just hug enough lo ruin us." I "Why er-tet's wait till the next . trip." offered the nbernian. I Eiiktmiu shook hi bead. "She may n( be back here fur eight week. No! I We're done for." I Halt wu like a big boy In distress. Ills face wrinkled ns If be were about to burst Into loud lamentations. Theu a thought i-elied him. "Where lu blazes la tnli steamer?" he cried. "Out to the westward somewhere." "Well, she's a mull Ikmu, ain't sjie? Then why don't she stev here comlug back? Ansxver tint" The rotuud wan sbranied bis fat shoulders. "She's exit to call at UyaU bay going east." , Kihwmiu looketl up quickly. "Whuro Is I'ynU bay?" "Over on Kudiak Island." "When Is the boat dtje at Uyak?" Emerson usked. "Most nny time Inside of a weok." "How .far k that from bare?" "It nln't 'so fur-only nlwut fifty miles." Then, catching the light that tlumeil Into the miner's evits. Pulitlllii I hastened to .observe; "Hut you can't I get there. It 'a across the straits Suet- Ikof straits.'1 "What of that! Ve.can hire a sail boat und" "1 alu't got nny sailboat. I lost my sloop last year hunting sea otter." "Wo can hire a small boat of some sort, can't we. aud get the natives to put us across? There must be plenty of boats here." "Nothing but skin boats, kyaUs and bldarWa, you know. AnyhowV you couldn't crosa at thU tlmo of year It'a too stormy. These straits la tho worst piece of water on tho coast. No; you'll have to wait;" (To bo continued.) ' - jfiaV Wfn'"v 4