The
SILVER.
HORDE!
B RCX BEACH.
Author ol 'The Spoiled- and
'The Burner'
Cpynhl 1909 bv Hrpi Broihtn
CHAPTER III.
mllE girl darted a swift look at
Boyd, but he fell to brooding
again, evidently Insensible to
her presence. At length he
stirred himself to ask:
"Can I hire a guide hereabout? We'll
have to be going on In a day or so."
"Constantine will get you one. 1
suppose, of course, you will avoid the
Katmal pass?"
"Avoid ll? Why?"
"It's dangerous, and nobody travels
It except In the direst emergency. It's
much the shortest route to the coast,
but It has a record of some thirty
deaths. I should advise you to cross
the range farther east, where the di
vide Is lower. The mall boat touches
at both places."
On the following morning Cherry
told Constantine to hitch up ber team
and have it waiting when breakfast
was finished. Then she turned to Em
erson, who came Into the room and
said quietly:
"I have something to show you If
you will take a short ride with me."
The young man, Impressed by the
gravity of bcr manner, readily con
sented. Constantine freed the leader,
and they went off at a mad run. They
skimmed over the snow with the flight
of a bird.
The young man gave himself up to
the unique and rather delightful ex
perience of being transported through
an unknown country to an unknown
destination by a charming girl of
whom be also knew nothing.
"Yesterday you seemed to be taken
by the fishing business," she finally
said.
"I certainly waa until you told me
there were no cannery sites left"
"There is one. When I came here
a year ago the whole river was open,
so on an outside chance I located a
site, the best one available. When
Willis Marsh learned of it he took up
all of the remaining places, and. al
though at the time I bad no idea what
I was going to do with my property.
I hung on to It"
"I can't buy your site."
"Nobody asked you to." she smiled.
"I wouldn't sell Jt Jo you if ygu,had
TOOETHIB THET ASCENDED THE BAKE AHD
SDBVEXKO TUB SUBKOC.NDLNOfJ.
the money, but if you will build a
cannery on It I'll turn In the ground
for an interest"
Emerson meditated a moment then
replied. "I can't say yes or no. It's
a pretty big proposition $200,000, you
said?"
"Yes. It's a big opportunity. Vou
can clean up 100 per cent In a year.
Do you think you could raise the
money to build a plant?"
"I might" be said eautlously.
"At least you can try?"
"But 1 don't know anything about
the business."
"I've thought of nil that, and there's
; a way to make success certain. I be
lieve you bure executive ability and
mo handle these men."
"Oh, yes. I've done that sort of
thing" Ills broad shoulders went up
as he drew a long breath. "What's
your plan?"
"There's a man down the coast.
Ceorjre Half, who knows more about
the business than any four people In
Kalvik. lie discovered iie Kalvlk
liver, built the first runner, here and
was .Its foremuu until lie quarreled
with Marsh Halt Isn't the kind of
man to be disciplined. 'no. not having
enough money to build a cannery, he
took bis scanty capital and started a
saltery on his own uccount Marsh
broke George in a year, ruined him.
utterly wiped him out. Just a he In
tends to wipe out Insignificant nie.
Thinking to recoup bin fortunes, George
came back Into camp, but he owus a
valuable trap site which Marsb and
bis colleagues want, and before they
would give him work they tried to
make him assign It to them and con
tract never to go in business on bis
own account Naturally George re
fused. He's been starving now for two
years.
"No man dar ta furnish food
George Bait: no man dares to give
him a bed; no cannery will let him
work He has to take a dory to Dutch
Harbor to net fd lie doesn't dare
leave the country and abandoo tha
meatier thousands he has Invested In
I'liiUllns. and every summer when
the run starts he conies across the
marshes and slinks about the Kalvik
thickets like a wraith, watching from
afar Just in order to be near it all.
lie stands alone and forsaken, harking
to the clank of machinery, every bolt
of which be placed, watching his
enemies enrich themselves from that
gleaming silver army, which he con
siders his very own. ne is shunned
like a leper. Some time I believe he
will kill Marsh."
"ntn-m! One seems to be forever
crossing the trail of this Marsh." said
Boyd, who bad listened intently.
"The man who beats Marsh will
have done something." She paused,
then said deliberately, "And I believe
you are the one to do It"
They, bad reached their destination
the mouth of a deep creek, up which
Cherry turned her dogs. Emerson
leaped from the sled and. runnlug for
ward, seized the leader, guiding It Into
a clump of spruce, among the boles
of which be tangled the harness, for
this team was like a pack of wolves,
ravenous for travel and Intolerant of
the leash.
Together they ascended the bank and
surveyed the surroundings. Cherry ex
patiating upon every feature with the
fervor of a land agent bent on weav
ing his spell about a prospective buyer.
And In truth she hnd chosen well, for
the conditions seemed Ideal
"I've watched you, and I know you
are down on your luck for some rea
son," the girl said. "You've been mis
cast somehow, an 1 you ve baa tne
heart taken out of you, but I'm sure
It's In you to succeed, for you're young
and Intelligent cool and determined.
I am giving you this chance to play
the biggest game of your life and erase
In eight short months every trace of
failure. I'm not doing it altogether
unselfishly, for I believe you've been
sent to Kalvik to work out your own
salvation and mine and that of poor
George Bait whom you've never seen.
You're going to do this thing, and
you're going to make It win."
Emerson reached out Impulsively and
caught her tiny, mittened band. Ilis
eyes were shining; his face bad lost
the settled look of dejection and was
all aglow with a new dawn of hope.
Even bis shoulders were lifted and
thrown back as If from some sudden
access of vigor that lightened bis bur
den. "You're right!" be said firmly. "We'll
send for Bait tonight "
In the davs that followed Cherry
was at Boyd's elbow constantly, aid
ing him at every turn in his zeal to
acquire a knowledge of the cannery
system. The odd conviction grew upon
her that he was working against time,
that there was a limit to his period
of action, for he seemed obsessed by
an ever growing passion to accomplish
some end within a given time and had
no thought for anything beyond the
engrossing Issue Into which be had
plunged. She was dumfounded by his
sudden transformation and delighted
at first, but later, when she saw that
be regarded her only as a means to
an end, his cool assumption of leader
ship piqued her and Rlie felt hurt
Constantine had been sent for Bait
with Instructions to keep on until he
found the fisherman even If the quest
carried him over the range. During
the days of impatient waiting they oc
cupied tbelr time largely In reconnol
terlng the nearest caunery. permission
to go over which Cherry had secured
from the watchman, who was Indebted
to her. The man was timid at llrst.
but Emerson won him over, then pro
ceeded to. pump blm dry of Informa
tion, as be bad done with bis hostess.
Fraser looked on In bewilderment
at the change In Emerson.
What have you doue to 'Frozen
Annie?' " he asked Cherry on one oc
casion. "You must have fed blm a
speed ball, for I never saw a guy
gear up ao fast Why, be was the
darndest crape banger I ever met till
you got him gingered up. lie didn't
have no more spirit than a sick kit
ten." Fraser then eyed the girl keenly.
"This Is a lonely place for a woman
like you." be said, "and our mutual
friend ain't altogether unattractive,
eh?"
Cherry's cheeks flamed, but her tone
was Icy. "This Is entirely a business
matter."
"Ilm-tn! I ain't' never beard you
touted none as a business woman,"
said the adventurer.
"Have you ever beard me" the col
or faded from the girl's face, and it
was a trifle drawn "discussed In any
way?"
"You know, Emerson makes me un
comfortable sometimes, be Is so d d
moral." Fraser replied Indirectly. "He
won't stand for anything off color.
He's a real sijuare guy, be Is, the kind
you read about."
"You didn't answer my question,"
Insisted Cherry.
Again Fraser evaded the Issue. "Now,
If this Mnrsbla guln after von in
earnest this summer why ion t you let
me stick around until spring and look
out your game? I'll drop a monkey
wreucb In his gear case or put a spider
In his dumpling, and It's more tbnn
an even shot that If him and I got
to know pach other right well I'd own
bis cannery before fall."
"Thank you: I can take care of my
self." said the girl.
Late one stormy night Constantine
bad been gone a week the two men
whom they were expecting blew In
through tbe blinding smother. Bait
refuse res'. r conrlshment nntll he
had learned why Cherry had sent
for him. A briefly s possible ht
outlined the uttuMlon Hovd Eiuerann
lar a huse. tarrel cheated creature
whose tremendous inn. Ics bulged te
aeatb his uoihIktI;h gnrinonts, whose
red. upstanding brist'.e of hair topped
t leather counteiiauie from which
gleamed a pair of the most violent eyes
Emerson had ever beheld, tbe donil
naut expression of which was rago.
Ills voice was hotirse with the echo
3f drumming ratlines. He might have
lived forty, sixty years, but every year
had been given to the sea; Its foaming
violence was In his blood.
As the significance of Cherry's words
lank into bis mind the signs of an un-
"I'LL GIVE MY LIFE TO IT."
holy Joy overspread the fisherman's
visage, and bis hairy paws continued
to open and close hungrily.
"Do you mean business? he bellow
ed at Emerson. "Can you fight?
"Yes."
"This gan? won't stop at anything,"
warned Bait
"Neither will I," affirmed the other,
with a scowl and a dangerous down
drawing of his lip corners. "I've got
to win. so don't waste any time won
dering bow far I'll go. What I want
to know is if you will Join my enter
prise." Til give my life to It"
"I knew you would," flashed Cherry.
"And If we don't beat Willis Marsh,
by glory. I'll kill him!" Bait shouted,
fullv canable of carrying out his
threat for his bloodshot eyes were
lit with bitter hatred. Turning to the
girl, he said:
"Now give me something to eat I've
been living on dogfish till my belly
is full of bones."
Long after Cherry bad gone to bed
she heard the murmur of their voices,
"It's all arranged." they advised her
at the breakfast table. "We leave to
morrow."
"Tomorrow?" she echoed blankly
"We start in the morning. We have
no time to waste."
She felt a sudden dread at her hpart
What If they failed and did not re
turn? What If some untoward peril
should overtake them on the outward
trip? It was a hazardous Journey, and
George Bait was the most reckless
man on the Bering coast. . Emerson's
next words added to her alarm:
"We'll catch the mall boat at Kat
maL"
"Katmal!" she broke In sharply.
"You said you were going by the Illam
na route." She turned on Bait angrl
ly. "Y'ou know better than to suggest
such a thing."
1 didn't suggest It." said Bait "It's
Mr. Emerson's own Idea: be Insists.
"I shall be dreadfully worried until
I kuow you are safely over." said tbe
girl, a new note of wistful tenderness
in her voice.
"Nonsense! We've all taken bigger
risks before."
"Do you know." she began hesitat
ingly, "I've been thinking that per
haps you'd better not take up this
enterprise after all."
"Why not?" be asked, with an In
credulous stare. "I thought you were
enthusiastic on tbe subject"
"I am. I believe In the proposition
thoroughly," Cherry limped on, "but
well, 1 was entirely selfish in getting
you started, for if possibly means my
own salvation, but"
"It's my last chance also," Boyd
broke In.
"A few days ago you were a stranger;
now you are a friend." she said stead
ily. "One's likes and dislikes - grow
rapidly when they are. not choked by
convention. I like you toe well to see
you do this. You are too good a man
to become the prey of those people.
Remember George Bait"
"Bait hasn't started yet For the
first time be Is a real menace to Willis
Harsh."
"Won't you take my advice and re
consider?" urged the girl.
"Listen," said the young man. "I
came to this country with a definite
purpose In mind, and I bad three years
In which to work It out I needed
money God. how I needed money!
They may talk about tbe emptiness of
riches and tell you that men labor
not for the 'kill. but for tbo pursuit;
not for the Btore, but for the contest
Maybe some of them do, but with me
It was gold I needed, gold I bad to
have, and I didn't care much bow I
got It so Jone as I got It honestly. I
focused every power upon, my aesire,
but a curse was on mc a curse,
nothing less. At first I took misfor
tune philosophically, but when It came
and slept with me I began to rage at
It It was terrifying because my time
was shortening, and tbe last day of
grace was rushing toward me.
"Just to show you what luck I play
ed in, at Dnwson I found a prospect
that would have made most men rich,
and. although such a thing had never
happened In that locality before, it
pinched out. I tried again a:n1 again.
e,nd fitT'll, .".,' 'jtl'J'ir "'-"",
to be nibbed of It by the Canadian
law In such a manner that there was
not the faintest hope of my ever re
covering the nrourtv. I flna'lv shifted
from mining to other ventures, and
he town burued. 1 awoke in a tnid-
Igbt blizzard to see my cbence for a
fortune licked up by flames, while the
hiss of the water from tbe firemen's
hose seemed directed at me, and tbe
voice of the crowd sounded like Jeers.
"I was among the first at Nome and
staked alongside the discoverers who
undertook to put me in right for once;
but although the fellows around me
made fortunes in a day, my grouud
was barren and my bedrock swept
clean by that unseen band which I
ways felt but could never avoid.
Once a broken snowsuoe In a race
to the recorder's office lost me a for
tune; at another time a corrupt Judge
plunged me from certainty to despair,
and all the while my time was grow
ing shorter aud I was growing poorer.
Two hours after tho Topkuk strike
was made I drove past the shaft, but
the one partner known to me had gone
to the cabin to build a fire and the
other one lied to me. thinking 1 was
a stranger. I heard afterward that
Just as I drove away my friend came
to the door and called after me, but
the day was bitter, and my ears were
muffled with fur, while the dry snow
beneath the runners shrieked so that
It drowned his cries. He chased me
for half a mile to make nie rich, but
the hand of fate lashed my dogs faster
and faster, while that hellish screech
ing outdlnned his voice. Six hours
later Topkuk was history. You've seen
stampedes you understand.
"My name became a byword and
caused people to laugh, though they
shrank from me, for miners and sail
ors are equally superstitious. No man
ever had more opportunities than 1.
and no man was ever so miserably
unfortunate In missing them. In time
I became whipped, utterly without
hope. Yet almost from habit I fought
on and on with my ears deaf to tbe
voices that mocked me.
"And something tells me that I have
left that ill omened thing behind at
last, and 1 am going to win!"
"But you're too late." suggested
Cherry. "You say your time was up
some time ago."
"Perhaps." he returned, staring Into
the distances. "That's what I was
going out to ascertain. I thought I
might have a few days of grace allow.
ed me. That's why I can't quit now
that you've set me in motion again.
now that you've given me another
chance. That's why we leave tomor
row and go by way of the Katmal
pass." ' '
CHAPTER IV.
URINO the evening Emerson
D
left the two other men In tbe
store, and. seeking Cherry out
In the little parlor, asked ber
to play for him. Again tbe blend
Ing of tbelr voices brought them
closer, bis aloofness wore off, and he
became an agreeable, accomplished
companion whose merry wit and boy
Ish sympathy stirred emotions In the
girl that threatened her peace of
mind It was their last hour together
before embnrklug on his perl'ous Jour
ney In search of the golden fleece, and
bis starved affections clamored for
sympathy, while tbe Iron In his blood
felt the magnetic propinquity of sex,
For her part, she lay awake far Into
the morning hours, now blissfully
floating on the current of half formed
desires, now vaeuely feu ring some
dread that clutched her.
The goodbys were, brief and com
monplace. There was time for noth
Ing more, for tbe dogs were straining
to be off and the December air bit
fiercely. But Cherry called Emerson
aside and In a rather tremulous voice
begged him again to consider well this
enterprise before finally committing
himself to it "If this were any other
country, If there were any law up here
or any certainty of getting a square
deal I'd never say a word; I'd urge
you to go the limit But"
He was about to laugh otr her rears
as he had done before, when the plain
tlve wrinkle between her brows aud
"OOODBYl THAT'S MY ANSWEK."
the forlorn droop of her Hps stayed
blm. W Itbout thought or conse
quences and prompted largely by hi
leaping spirits, ho stooped and. before
she could divine bis purpose, kissed
ber.
"Goodby," be laughed, with dancln
eyes. "Thut's my answer!" And the
next second bo was at the sled. Th
dogs leaped at Ids shout, aud the clival
cade was in motion.
But the girl stood without sound or
gesture, bareheaded under the wintry
sky, a startled, wondering light In ber
eyes wblcb did not fade until the men
were lost to view far up tbe river trail
Ihenjho hreh'jd deeply snd ftv"ned
Into the bouie, oblivious to Cotistan
tlne and the young squaw, who belJ
the sick baby up for her Inspection.
The hazards of winter travel In the
north are manifold ri Wt, but the
country which Emerson and his com
panions had to traverse was particu
larly perilous owing to the fact that
their course led them over the back
bone of the great Alaskau range, that
desolate, skyscraping rampart which
Interposes itself betweeu the htite of
the arctic seas and the tossing wilder
ness of the north Tactile.
A wetk of bard travel fouud the
party camped in the last fringe of
Cottonwood that fronted the glacial
lopes, their number augmented now
by a native from a Russian village
ltb an unpronounceable name, who.
t the price of an extortionate bribe.
had agreed to pilot them through. For
three days they lay Idle, the taut walls
of their tent thrumming to an Inces
sant fusillade of Ice particles that
hlrled dowu ahead of the blast while
Emerson fumed to be gone.
The fourth morning broke still and
quiet but after a careful scrutiny of
tbe peaks the Indian shook his bead
and spoke to Bait who nodded in
agreement '
"What's the matter?" growled Em
erson. "Why don't we get uuder way?"
But the other replied:
Not today. Them tips are smok
ing, see!" He indicated certain gauzy
streamers that floated like vapor from
the highest pinnacles. "That'a snow,
ry snow, and It shows that tbe wind
is blowing up there. We dassent tackle
It"
"Do you mean we must He here wait
ing for an absolutely calm day?"
"Exactly."
"Why, It may be a week!"
"It may be two of them; then, again.
It may be all right tomorrow."
"Nonsense! That breeze won't hurt
anybody."
"Breeze!" Bait laughed. "U'i more
like a tornado up yonder. .No; we've
ust got to takeTTTFasy fill the right
moment comes and then make a dash.
It's thirty miles to tbe nearest stick
of timber, and once you get Into the
pass you can't stop till you're through."
The next dawn showed the mountain
peaks limned like clean cut Ivory
against the steel blue sky, and aa tbey
crept up through the defiles the air
waa ao motionless that the smoke of
their pipes hung about their beads,
while the creak of their soles upon
the dry surface of the anow roused
echoes from the walls on either aide,
At first their progress was rapid, but
In time tbe drifts grew deeper and
they came to bluffs where they were
forced to notch footholds, unpack their
load and relay it to the top, then free
the dogs and haul tbe sled up with
rope hand over band.
It was early in the afternoon when
the Indian stopped and began test
ing the air.
"Feels like wind," said Bait with a
shake of his bead. The native began
to chatter excitedly, and as they
stood there a chill draft fanned their
cheeks. Little wisps of snow vapor
began to dauce upon the ridges, whisk
ing out of sight as suddenly as they
appeared. They became conscious of
sudden fall in the temperature and
tbey knew that tbe cold of interstellar
space dwelt in that ghostly breath
which smote them. Before they were
well aware of tho ominous signifi
cance of these signs the storm was
upon them, sweeping through the
chute wherein they stood with rapidly
increasing violence. Tbe terrible un
seen band of the frozen north had un
leashed Its brood of furies, aud the
air rang with their hideous cries.
There was no question of facing the
wlud, for It was more cruel than the
fierce breath of an open furnace sear
ing tbe tlesh like a flame.
All the morning the air hnd bung
In perfect poise, but some change of
temperature away out over one of tbe
rival oceuns had upset the aerostatic
balance, and tbe wlud tore through
this gap like the torrent below a bro
ken reservoir
Bait came close to Emerson and bel
lowed Into bis ear:
"What shall we do? (loll up In the
bedding or ruu for It'.'"
"How far Is ll to timber?"
"Twelve or fifteen miles."
"Let's run for It'. We're out of
grub, anyhow, and this may last for
days."
There was no use of trying to secure
additional clothing from tbe supply In
the sled, so tbey abandoned their out
fit and allowed themselves to be driven
ahead of tbe storm, trusting to tbe
native's sense of direction and keeping
close together. Tbe dogs were already
well drifted over and refused to stir,
Once they bad gone a stone's throw
from the sled there way no turning
back, and, although tbe wind was be
hind them, progress was difficult for
tbey came upon chasms wblcb tbey
had to avoid; they crossed slippery
slopes where tbe storm bad bared the
hard crust and which their feet re
fused to grip. In such plnces they
bad to creep on hands and knees, call
ing to one another for guidance. They
were numbed, blinded, choked by the
rage of the blizzard; their faces grew
stiff and their lungs froze. At times
they fell and were skidded along
ahead of the blasts. This forced them
to crawl back again, for tbey dared
not lose their course.
Much has been written concerning
the red man's physical powers of en
durance, but ns a rule no Indian if
the equal of his white brother, due as
much perhaps to luck of mental force
as to generations of insufficient cloth'
Ing and Inanition, so it was not sur
prising that as the long afternoon
drugged to a close the Aleut guide be
gan to weaken.
Darkness found them staggering on.
supporting him wherever possible. At
Ipnfb he became unable to guide them
farther, and Halt, who haJ once mad
the trip, took his place, while the oth
ers dragged the poor creature along at
the cost of their precious strength.
They bad lonu since lost all track of
time and place, trusting blindly to
downward course. The hurrleana
Still harried them with unabated fury.
when all at once tbey came to another
bluff where the ground fell sway
abruptly. Without waiting to Investi
gate whether the slope terminated In
a drift or a preclpace. they flung them
selves over. Down they floundered,
the two half sensible men tangled to
gether as if In a race for total oblivion,
only to plunge through a thicket of
willow tops that whipped and stung
them. On tbey went now vastly heart
ened, over another ridge, down an
other declivity, and then Into a grova
of spruce timber, where the air sud
denly stilled, and only the treetops told
of tho rushing wind above.
It was well nigh an hour before Bait
and Emerson succeeded In starting
tire, for It was desperate work groping
for dry branches, and they themselves
were on the verge of collapse before
tho timid blaze finally showed tha
two more unfortunate ones huddled, to
gether. Cherry had given Emerson a flask.
of liquor before starting, and this he
now" 3Ivlde3 letwecn TFaseraua th
guide, having wisely refused It to
them nntll shelter was secured. Then
he melted snow in Bait's tin cup and
poured pints of hot water Into tbe pair
until the adventurer began to rally,
but tho Aleut was too far gone, and
an hour before the laggard dawn cam
he died.
The day was well spent when they
struggled into Katmal and plodded up
to a half rotted log store. A globular
quarter breed Russian trader took them
in and administered to their most cry
ing needs.
As soon as Emerson was able to
talk be Inquired concerning the mall
boat
"She called here three day ago,
bound west" said the trader.
"That's all right She'll be back in
about a week, eh?"
"She wou't stop coming back."
"What!" Emerson felt himself Sick
ening. "No; she won't call ber till next
month, and then if It's storming sbs'U
go on to the westward and land on her
way back."
"How long will that be?"
"Maybe seven or eight weeks."
In bis weakened condition tbe young
man groped for tbe counter to support
himself. So tbe storm's delay at th
foot of the pass bad undone htm!
Fate, In tbo guise of winter, bad un
furled those floating snow banners
from the mountain peaks to thwart
him once more!
Out of consideration for bis compan
ions Emerson did not acquaint them
with the evil tidings until tbe next
morning; moreover, he was swallowed
up In black despair and had no heart
left in blm for any further exertion.
He had allowed tbe Russian to show
blm to a bed, upon which he flung him
self, half dressed, while tho others fol
lowed suit
Emerson fell Into a deep sleep, and
it was lute In the day when be awoke,
every muscle aching, every Joint stiff,
every step attended with pain. Be
found bis companions up and already
breakfasted. Big George none the worse
for his ordeal, while Fraser, bandaged
and smarting, was his old shrewd self.
"Have you heard about the mail
boat?" asked Emerson.
"No."
"We've missed her."
"What d'you mean?" demanded Bl;t
George blankly.
"I mean that that storm delayed n
Just long enough to ruin us."
"Why-er let's wait till the next
trip," offered the fisherman.
Emerson shook bis bead. "She may
not be back here for eight weeks. No!
We're done for."
Bait was like a big boy In dlstrsss,
Ula face wrinkled as If be were about
to burst Into loud lamentations. Then
a thought seized him.
"Where In blazes la this steamer?
he cried.
"Out to tbe westward somewhere."
"Well, she's a mall boat ain't sber
Then why don't she stop hers coming
back? Answer me."
Tbe rotund man shrugged his far
shoulders. "She's got to call at Uyak
bay going cast" ,
Emerson looked up quickly. "Where
Lb Uyak bay?"
"Over on Kadlak Island."
"When is the boat due at Uyakr
Emerson asked.
"Most any time Inside of a week."
"How far Is that from here?"
"It ain't so fur-only about fifty
miles." Then, catching the light tb.it.
flamed into the miner's eyes, retell:.
hastened to observe: "But you caul
get there. It's across the straits Shei
ikof straits."
"What of that! We. can hire a sail
boat and"
"I oln't got any sailboat I lost my
sloop last year hunting sea otter."
"We can hire a small boat of some
sort can't we, and get tbe natives to
jut us across? There must be plenty
of boats here.'"
"Nothing but skin boats, kyaks and
bldnrkus, you know. Anyhow, you
couldn't cross at this time of yen ro
ll's too stormy. These straits Is t:n
worst piece of water on the con - .
No; you'll have to wolt"
Emerson stared hopelessly at fi
ll re.
The disheartened man started at t'.sU
Juncture as If a sudden thought I i
pelled him and followed Bait out In
the cold. He turned down the bank i
the creek, however, and made a cat
ful examination of all tho canoes tli't
went with the village. Fifteen tin i
utesjnter he fond, searched, put the
(Continued on page 8.)
