Part 13 (1/2)

Picking up his rifle and bidding Alf take his gun, Mackintosh at once made a move towards that part of the bush where Bob had last been seen

Haggis and the dog Bannock quickly followed, and the former moved with all the quiet swiftness of a native as used toin any degree flustered

That life had er, and its safety had only been attained by being in a constant state of readiness

By instinctive acknowledgment of the presence of a superior craftsis, who quickly discovered the tracks that Bob's progress had left behind The imprint of a rabbit's foot would not have escaped notice from such eyes as those of the half-breed, who had been trained in all forest lore from his babyhood Hence it was mere child's play for him to pick up the track of top-boots, as well as the traces that had been rasses and thorns

Meantime the distant shots were continued at intervals, until Holden counted twenty in all

Poor boy! It was little to be wondered at that he urged Haggis to press on with greater speed, for noas certain that his chum must be in a terrible fix, out froes so recklessly were he not in sooodness' sake, hurry!” the boy exclai in Indian file was all too slow for the patience of one as pressing to the rescue of his friend

But the half-breed did not change the pace

”We step enough quick for bush-track,” he said, without turning ”We no'

wish lose track On prairie we go quick--run; but in bush slow”

”The Haggis is right,” completed Mackintosh, whose position was third in the procession ”It's no' good to be too quick We ht lose the trail, and that would ain”

Alf was forced to acknowledge the truth of the reasoning, though it was a hard task for him to curb the desire toin the right track

Then the half-breed stopped for a fewscrub

”What is it?” questioned Holden ”Have you lost it?”

Haggis shrugged his shoulders

”Lost? No Haggis no' lose track But he find others--deer White boy shoot deer, but no kill Deer jump--run--white boy follow quick--there--there!”

As he spoke the half-breed rapidly pointed at the various signs that he had interpreted They were plain enough to the native eye, and in a lesser degree to the sight of the Scotsuish an occasional displaceh he ell content to rely on the opinions of those ere ain the rescuers hastened onwards, with Bannock bringing up the rear, and when at last they came to a part of the bush where the trees were soht in front of hi the one sound--

”Ha!”

Holden was at the native's side in an instant

”What is it? Where? What do you see?” he exclairass--see!”