CLANCY OF THE MOUNTED POLICE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 23 July 1923, Page 3

CLANCY OF THE MOUNTED POLICE.

NEW SERIAL—

♦ STORY OF LIFE IN THE NORTHWEST.

(By

OTTWELL BINNS).

CHAPTER 11. “ I tell you dat was zee paper. Ht read to be vaire sure of zee ways, den he look at zee map !” “Well, what of that, you chump?” came the answering voice, which he recognised as belonging to the man Montana Joe. “He takes us along with him, don’t he?” ‘‘Oui! Oui! But cet is better, mooch better if we go alone, an ” “ I don’t agree with you, Anton. Ever hear of the monkey what pulle 1 the nuts out of the fire? It was very creditable of it: but when it’s a casa of burning your fingers, somebody else than me is going to star as the monkey.’’ 'fhe speaker laughed noisily, and then whilst Clancy stood thinking over the words which he had heard, the man spoke again. “ Just lift them haunches into the canoe, and I’ll bring along the tit-bits. The rest’ll do for the lynxes and wolves.” There was a sound of movement, a French oath ripped as a man stumbled, and whilst the corporal still stood in the shadow of the trees there reached him the soft plunk! plunk! of paddles. Stepping into the open he stood looking after the canoe now gliding up the moonlit lake. There was a very thoughtful look in his eyes. He remembered what Elkington had said about his lack of trust in his guides; and the fragment of conversation which he had just overheard seemed to give the American’s distrust a certain significance that was not to be ignored, even though he did not quite understand the bearing ol it. Standing there, he recalled the parchment which he had seen in Elkington’s hand on his arrival at the camp, and remembered how on his own advent the American had hastily folded it and put it away. Was that the paper to which the man Anton had referred ? It seemed likely ; and the other guide's words appeared to indicate that it referred to some valuable secret, though the nature of it he could only guess. That the two men out there in the canoe were a pair of rascals he was convinced; and he stood watching them for a little while half inclined to turn back and give their employer warning. Then ho decided that there was no need for immediate action. Alorning would do for that; and when he struck camp lor the day’s start it would be an easy thing to paddle up to the other camp and have a word with Mr Elkington, and if neessary with the two guides also. So thinking, he resumed his way towards his own camp, and when he arrived there, made up his fire, seated himself and gave himself up to reverie. Staring into the lire, he visioned the beautiful face of Mollie Elkington anil was conscious of a certain quickening of his heart as he recalled her wilful dancing eyes. The vision was pleasant enough for a lonely man to dwell upon and it was some time before he mover

, or lifted his eyes from the fire. When he did so, it was to find the moon obscured by a drifting cloud, and the lake in shadow. He looked at the darkened water carelessly, let his eyes rove round the immense three-quarter circle of darknes, and then suddenly leapt to his feet, an alert, eager look upon his face. Away across the shadowed' bosom of the lake he saw a glowing point that experience told him was a eamp-lire. Il was miles away, but he had no doubt whatever that that glowing point indicated a human presence or presences. Who could it be? Wandering Indians, a trapper moving to his winter location m the wilderness, or—Jean Dubose. He inclined to the latter belief , and after a little consideration he determined to put his faith to the test, and if he had guessed right, steal on his long-sought quarry in the silent hours when he would be asleep. Forgetting for the moment his intention to warn Elkington, he struck camp, launched his canoe and paddled out on the lake, making a straight line for the wilderness camp-fire, indicated by that glowing point of light. HANDS OT. . The moon had set, and except for - the faint light of stars, the world was in darkness, when Corporal Clancy

drew up his canoe four hundred yards or so away from the dying glow of the camp-fire which had lured him on his nocturnal journey. As he stepped ashore he looked along the lake-side, but could see nothing except the faint radiance of the expiring fire; and for a moment he stood wondering whether the unknown camper was indeed Jean Dubose or not. As he peered into the shadows which gathered thickly along the shore, he waited, quite motionless, listening. No sound of movement came from the camp, and alter a few' minutes he began to move in the direction of the fire, exercising infinite caution to avoid making a noise. A hundred yards or so away he halted, and again stood listening and staring into the shadows of which the dying fire was the centre. He could see nothing, ami no sound came of any movemeat through the silence. He knew that in all probability Jean Dubose was asleep; but he had in mind the posuib.'itv that the hall-breed might Lave seen the camp-fire down the lake, and even have watched his own progress arioss the water, so he took no risks, lest Dubose, lying low', might be waiting for him, hoping to take him at a disadvantage. Alter a minute or two’s consideration lie turned from the shore, and slipped into the denser

shadow of the thick pinewood which lined it. The half-breed, he reasoned, if he were expecting his advent, would , look for him to- come from the water, and not from the wood behind the camp, and if he could creep near enough, he would be able to see whether Dubose was waiting for him or not, and would be able to act. accordingly. The thick carpet of pine needles deadened the slight sound of his footsteps, and though it was difficult moving among the trees in the darkness, after a little time he reached a point where he bad a dear view of the silent camp. The fire, fading now io white afh, still sent forth a faint glow, and by the- dim radiance, he made out a man’s form, wrapped in a blanket, lying in the shelter of a tree. It was impossible to see the man’s face, and so to learn whether the sleeper was the half-breed or not: and there was nothing for it but to move nearer. Slipping his pistol from his holster, he stepped into the open, am! with Ins eyes on the sleeper, crept fotwnrd. lie had taken no more than hail a dozen cautious steps, when he set his foot on something which, slipping uway, rattled tioisinlv against something else, breaking the silence with a sudden clamour. He guessed instantly that he had stepped into .be middle oi the camp utensils, while, the sleeper had left lying about carelessly ; and as the man awakened by' the din. sat suddenly bolt upright I learv leaped !<>,- ward. He could not see the* man’s face but he had taken the same chance that he had taken once before that night. “ Hands up! Jean Dubose, in the mime of ” He. got no further. The man on the ground sprang up with amazing agility, and as he did so flung forward

the heavy blanket. It caught Clancy in the face, and before he could recover from this unexpected move his assailant was on him, gripping him in both arms. Clancy swung his right hand clear. He still hold the pistol, and it would have been perfectly easy for him to have used it; but it is the tradition of the Alounted Police to use their arms onlyin the last resource, and the corporal was personally averse to using his pistol in the situation in which he firr.id himself. With a laugh he dropped the weafxm, and grappled his opponent, whom he did not -doubt was the hallbreed. To and fro they struggled, each trying to throw the other, and neither succeeding. In their desperate wrestle they trampled through the lire, and a smell of singed leather poisoned the air, ol which however neither of them were aware. Panting, gasping, locked in

the desjiera-te embrace, they reeled down the slight slope to the edge of the lake; and it was only at the last moment that Clancy made the discovery that they had reached that point, and that the half breed was trying to throw him in the water. With a desperate effort to recover himself, the corporal swung the half -breed half wax round, but lost his looting as he did so, and then toppled over towards the water, taking his opponent with him. The fall was not a long one, and was broken by the deep water into which they dropped. They came up close to the bank, still locked in each other’s arms, the half-breed gasping and spluttering. Clancy, except that he was a little winded, was very much himself. As he took a long breath, he caught sight of the bank behind his antagonist. It looked lik< rock and the chance was worth trying Sud(To l»e continued).