Part 14 (1/2)

With a lohistle Aldous took off his hat He ran a hand through his blond-gray hair Then he replaced his hat and dreo cigars frolittering; his lips were s to kill us?”

”They're goin' to try,” ahostly beard ”They're goin' to try, Johnny That's why I told you not to go to the cabin I wasn't expecting you for a week

To-oin' to start on a hike for Miette I been watching through my telescope fro on a hand-car Twice I see hiether Then I saw Blackton hike out into the bush I orrying about you an' wondered if he had any word So I laid for hiuess it was lucky

I ain't been able to set h the telescope--an' I couldn't find hiht”

For several moments Aldous looked at his companion in silence Then he said:

”You're sure of all this, are you, Donald? You have good proof--that Joe has turned traitor?”

”I've been suspicious of him ever since we come down from the North,”

spoke MacDonald slowly ”I watched hirubstake an' start back alone Then I saw him with Culver Rann It was late I heard 'im leave the shack, an' I followed He went to Rann's house--an' Rann was expecting him Three times I followed hi then, an' I planned to get him back in the mountains on a hunt, an' kill hih theThen he disappeared An'--Culver Rann is getting an outfit together! Twenty head of horses, with grub for three months!”

”The deuce! And our outfit? Is it ready?”

”To the last can o' beans!”

”And your plan, Donald?”

All at once the old erness as he caht!” he cried in a low, hissing voice that quivered with excitement ”Hit the trail before dawn! Strike into the h back--and then wait!”

”Wait?”

”Yes--wait If they follow us--_fight!_”

Slowly Aldous held out a hand The old mountaineer's met it Steadily they looked into each other's eyes

Then John Aldous spoke:

”If this had been two days ago I would have said yes But to-night--it is ihtened about his own relaxed Slowly a droop came into MacDonald's shoulders Disappointment, a look that was ale, Aldous held the old hunter's hand ht,” he said quickly ”Only we've got to plan differently Sit down, Donald So to tell you about it”

A little back from the fire they seated themselves, and Aldous told Donald MacDonald about Joanne

He began at the beginning, from the moment his eyes first saw her as she entered Quade's place He left nothing out He told how she had coht to keep her fro out of it He told of his fears, his hopes, theto Tete Jaune, and how Quade had preceded them to plot the destruction of the wo, like a radiant Goddess in the sun; and when he came to that he leaned nearer, and said softly:

”And when I saw her there, Donald, with her hair streaht of the time you told o--and how you, Donald, used to look upon her in the sun, and rejoice in your possession Her spirit has been with you always You have told me how for nearly fifty years you have followed it over these mountains And this woht her spirit would live with o into the o--now But you----”

MacDonald had risen He turned his face to the black wall of the forest

Aldous thought he saw a sudden quiver pass through the great, bent shoulders