stood gazing down, awe-stricken and
dismayed. Then they turned and ran as hard as they could go, back up
the logging trail. It was the signal for the retreat of every member
of the gang who could slip out of sight into the woods; but not before
Svenson had gathered together every weapon they possessed.

With an oath McCorquodale started towards Kendrick; but he stopped when
he saw Phil sitting up, grinning at him cheerfully. At the first move
of McIvor's rifle in his direction he had thrown himself flat,
disconcerting the man's aim.

The detective's bullet, however, had found its mark. Red McIvor lay
sprawled grotesquely where he fell. A moment later McCorquodale looked
up from his examination.

"Y' can't kill this bird with no thirty-two," he grinned. "He'll be
around after a bit, cussin' a blue streak. The bullet bumped him on
the bean an' glanced off like it was solid ivory. I slips the
bracelets on him, see, an' we takes him along with us. I miss my guess
if he aint wanted bad in 'bout every place he's been."

It was an odd procession which filed out on the riverbank twenty
minutes later. First came Svenson, carrying across his great shoulder
the still unconscious form of the bootlegger. Behind him walked Jimmy
Stiles, supported by Kendrick. McCorquodale brought up the rear,
loaded down with confiscated rifles.

They found Svenson's big canoe unharmed. The small canoe was gone from
its place in the bushes beside the flat rock. In the soft earth at the
water's edge they discovered a spare paddle stuck upright and to it was
tied a bit of cambric, her handkerchief.

Phil struck a match and examined it carefully, making out a dim "O.K."
which she had marked on it with a lead-pencil.

He heaved a breath of relief and smiled as he wrapped it carefully
about a dollar bill and tucked it away in his card-case.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE RACE BEGINS

It was just a few minutes past eleven o'clock when Cristy Lawson
climbed to the railroad track out of breath and hurried towards the
section shanty. She had made good time in the canoe with the swift
current of the Wolverine in her favor, and she was elated at her
progress. The remaining stage of the journey should not present much
difficulty, once she had persuaded Thorlakson of the urgency of her
mission.

The place was in darkness and she tapped loudly on the window-pane of
Mrs. Thorlakson's bedroom. After a little while she heard the woman
stir a