GOING FOR THE DOCTOR

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 130, 29 November 1930, Page 20

GOING FOR THE DOCTOR

DECK and Ned lived in the North if Canada; they were- two sons . ).f. a.._dying father. He needed a doctor, but that was well-nigh impossible, as the winter snows were settingin fast and thick. Mr. Peterson, their father, had caught a severe chill that was fast turning into pneumonia. Slid-' denly a wolf wailed out, and then another. It was moonlight, and a pack was coming towards the fur-trader's hut. "The wolves!" shouted Ned, as ho peered through the glassless opening which served as a window. Gripping his rifle, ho fired, and one of the brumes lay kicking on tlie snow. "I must pat it out of misery, or the others will certainly trample it to death." Leaving the hut, he quickly put the beast out of misery, and while he was doing so the whole pack had closed round him! Dick came with a piece of blazing pino and threw it amongst the pack, which quickly divided and left the settlers' rude shelter. ; - • "The doctor!" breathed Dick. "We must find the doctorfor Dad!" "I'll stay with him whilst you find Dr. Damesley at the 'post, 1'" .said Dick. Ned set out towards the sledge which ho 'larnessed to four strong dogs. "Mush! Mush!" shouted Ned to the leader. The dogs were fresh, and soon scented the trail, and. pulled with a will. Neid was placing'a"thick >ug over his knee, when the crack of a rifle was heard amongst the snow-cov-ered pines. The leader having scented the danger, gave a low bark which ended in his throat like a low growl. Ned did not need to urge tho now excited team. ■In his sledge he was also carrying a large number of furs to tho trading station. "Halt, or I'll fire!" snarled a voice from behind the pines. Ned pulled up with a jerk. ' ' "Hand over 'em furs, an' be quick about it!" said the figure, exposing himself. It was Pete the Fur-stealer,

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and he was wanted by tlie Mounted;} Police. ■•• .»--i—■..-• •.'-^i.' j( ... ..'.'l'll, do -nothing of the kind/^sai<li Ned in a, steady voice". Crack!" TiiS" thief's revolver barked, out, aiicT'thiS aouiid of the bullet echoed among the trees. Bingo, the leader of the team, strained at his leaslj of doer hid.(.y.. .which snapped, dragging • over : ■ tlio sledge into the frozen snow. Bingo sprang at the man's heels, but he (the thief), grabbing Ids knife, aimed ;t vicious blow at the animal's head. Picking himself up, Ned flung his arms round the robber's- legs' and pitched headlong into the snow. This was too much for the thief, "Let me go! "he snarled; But Ned fought with all his-strength; and-as;ho " aimed a blow at the. man's chin he felt a dig in his flesh. . . ..... . "Wa'al, I've caught'you now," you litle shark!" ho drawled!' ■"I'll teach you'to meddle ' with 'me. Tako that!" "Thatf was a-blow. wM}. the' butt of the ; thief 's gun.. . As.v"j*etfi. brought the gun downwards, on to..the boy's head the boy ducked, and the fur-stcaler hit the empty^ a'ir.'';'JJed.". threw his opponent • on.-tp..'.'the'-;S]iowi covered ground, and;."dragging a (je.er.-., thong, from his pocket, Hjp,bound the mn'JV'to' his sledge. ■ ■^^■■'■-:'. <: -i •'-''■: "That's "one for' me'i^-Ned SaKT $4. tie put the iinishing touches- to.hjs.jd.bt "Now fpr the post.'.' ~..,.. ... :-.:. Vi ... Having put the ,dogs7irito ; fresh' '6ar«: ness, the lad drove ,o& across' the^iieiy'; wastes. The pallid sun. was veij-Mixr on the horizon, and. as he. slowed .the, animals down a long, mournful cry rent' the frozen air. The dogs, took up thahowl.. It .would bo. dawn • before they: reached-the post. . Ned looked to We...' if the fur'Stealer was safe, and.as.jie did so he noticed two green eyes gleam- ; ing through the trees. The pack waj drawing closer! ' ■ (To be concluded.) "ROSE QTH3EN^:-<-14).> . Palmerston-North. - ■ . i. ■ ■:,..? •