The Alaskan eBook

James Oliver Curwood
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 301 pages of information about The Alaskan.

The Alaskan eBook

James Oliver Curwood
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 301 pages of information about The Alaskan.

“It is our one chance,” he said.

“And aren’t you glad—­a little glad—­that I didn’t run away without you?”

Even then he saw the sweet and tremulous play of her lips as they smiled at him in the gloom, and heard the soft note in her voice that was almost playfully chiding; and the glory of her love as she had proved it to him there drew from him what he knew to be the truth.

“Yes—­I am glad.  It is strange that I should be so happy in a moment like this.  If they will give us a quarter of an hour—­”

He led the way quickly to the square of light and was first to creep forth into the thick mist.  It was scarcely rain, yet he could feel the wet particles of it, and through this saturated gloom whining bullets cut like knives over his head.  The blazing cabin illumined the open on each side of Sokwenna’s place, but deepened the shadows in the ravine, and a few seconds later they stood hand in hand in the blanket of fog that hid the coulee.

Suddenly the shots grew scattering above them, then ceased entirely.  This was not what Alan had hoped for.  Graham’s men, enraged and made desperate by Rossland’s death, would rush the cabin immediately.  Scarcely had the thought leaped into his mind when he heard swiftly approaching shouts, the trampling of feet, and then the battering of some heavy object at the barricaded door of Sokwenna’s cabin.  In another minute or two their escape would be discovered and a horde of men would pour down into the ravine.

Mary tugged at his hand.  “Let us hurry,” she pleaded.

What happened then seemed madness to the girl, for Alan turned and with her hand held tightly in his started up the side of the ravine, apparently in the face of their enemies.  Her heart throbbed with sudden fear when their course came almost within the circle of light made by the burning cabin.  Like shadows they sped into the deeper shelter of the corral buildings, and not until they paused there did she understand the significance of the hazardous chance they had taken.  Already Graham’s men were pouring into the ravine.

“They won’t suspect we’ve doubled on them until it is too late,” said Alan exultantly.  “We’ll make for the kloof.  Stampede and the herdsmen should arrive within a few hours, and when that happens—­”

A stifled moan interrupted him.  Half a dozen paces away a crumpled figure lay huddled against one of the corral gates.

“He is hurt,” whispered Mary, after a moment of silence.

“I hope so,” replied Alan pitilessly.  “It will be unfortunate for us if he lives to tell his comrades we have passed this way.”

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Alaskan from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.