t get it open. She knew now that the
critical moment had arrived. There was no time to lose. She must
leave the place and nee to the shelter of the forest. That was her
only hope.

By the dim light of the dying fire she donned the coat, cap and mitts
that Kitty had made for her. Then seizing her snow-shoes, she
cautiously opened the back door. As she did so she could hear the
other door creaking beneath the weight of several bodies pressing
against it from the opposite side. That it would soon give way she
felt certain, so she must make her escape while there was time.
Stepping out into the night, she looked fearfully around. Seeing no
one, she sped along the trail, and in another minute was within the
sheltering arms of the great forest. Here she paused and looked back.
Nothing could she see but the house standing black and drear in the
midst of the little clearing.

It took her but a few minutes to arrange her snowshoes on her feet, and
she had just straightened herself up from her stooping position when a
crash and a medley of shouts fell upon her ears. She knew the meaning
of these sounds, and her heart beat wildly. The door had been burst
open, and the men were in the room searching for her. Presently she
saw several come out of the house and look around. Waiting to see no
more, she sped along the trail which stretched out before her. Never
had she travelled with such speed, her great fear urging her forward.
Would the slashers follow her? she asked herself. At times she stopped
and listened with the strained attention of a hunted animal. But
nothing could she hear, so encouraged she pressed onward.

At first she did not find the walking difficult, owing partly to her
excitement and the freedom she felt in being away from the house of
dread. She had no trouble in following the trail, for sufficient light
sifted down through the trees to show the beaten track. She wondered
who had travelled that way as she had not heard Norman refer to any one
coming from the great river. She had no idea as to the time of night,
although she hoped that it might be late for then she could look
forward more hopefully to the dawn. That the trail would lead her to
the mast-cutters she had not the slightest doubt, so this gave her
considerable comfort.

She had been travelling about an hour when the snow began to fall.
Among the trees it did not at first impede her progress, but she could
tell by the roaring over