The Golden Snare

n was Raine-

hat made Raine shiver. Close to the east was Hudson's Bay-so close that a few moments before when Raine had opened the cabin door there came to him the low, never-ceasing thunder of the under-currents fighting their way down through the Roes Welcome from the Arctic Ocean, broken now and then by a growling roar as the giant forces sent a crack, like a great knife, through one of the frozen mountains.

that I saw him-alive, M'sieu," Pie

lt was a brave man, or he would not have perched himself alone out in the heart of the Barren to catch the white foxes; and he was

t!" repeat

as Pierre himself, with eyes as steely blue as Pierre's were black. There was a time, away back, when he wore a dress suit as no other man in the big west

," he said. "Bram

alive,

ce there was a

and opened it, and stood there listening and looking out into the night. UGH! they went near. I could hear the hoofs of the caribou. And then I heard a great cry, a voice that rose a

hree-quarters of an hour Raine saw him fighting back a strange excitem

r that-yo

rre de dieu!" He shuddered, and the knuckles of his fingers snapped as he clenched and unclenched his hands. "But I stayed there, M'sieu, half buried in a snow dune. They went on after a long time. It was so dark I could not see them. I went to the kill then, and-yes, he had carried away the two hind quarters of the caribou. It was a bull, too, and heavy. I followed-clean across that strip of Barren down to the timber, and it was there that Bram built himself the fire. I could see him then, and I swear by the Blessed

clenching and unclenchi

ieve me,

ip n

d yet-you could not have

ath of satisfaction, an

lieve me if I te

es

h the caribou skin pouch in which he carried his

boughs. And-and-par les mille cornes du diable if he had even brushed the snow out! His great moccasin tracks were all about among the tracks of the wol

fingers about the caribou-skin bag in his hand stirred Philip with the thrill of a tense and mysteri

which had dropped from

sp of amazement. Pierre had expected that cry. He had at first been disbelieved; now his face burned with triumph. It seemed, for a space, as if Philip had ceased breathing. He stared-stared-while the light

it was that it was made