until at length he found the river entirely blocked with
the floating mass. There was nothing to do but to abandon the craft
which had done him such good service, and travel on foot along an
Indian trail which wound its devious way through the wilderness.

He had hoped to reach Klassan early in the afternoon, but in this he
was disappointed, and night had shut down when at last he paused to
rest atop the hill looking down upon the village.

It was not for rest alone that he halted and seated himself upon a
jutting rock. It was to collect his thoughts, which were in a
perturbed condition. How would he be received at Klassan? he wondered,
and what had happened since his departure? Then he was so near to her.
What was she doing down there in the darkness? Moving, perhaps, about
the little cabin. Was she thinking of him, the wanderer, the outcast,
with the stain upon his name? He shivered, not from apprehension
alone, but from the chill, mist-laden wind rolling and roaring up the
valley.

He rose to his feet and advanced a few paces, when a strange sound away
to the right startled him and stayed his steps. He peered ahead
through the darkness. He strained his ears and listened like a hunted
creature. Presently the truth flashed upon him, terrible, intense. It
was the ice-jam! It had given way and was sweeping down with
irresistible force upon the village below! Would the miners know of
it? Would they flee to the high banks? And what of her? Was she safe?

He threw aside his rifle and leaped forward like a greyhound. Down,
down, through the darkness he sped, over rocks, beating the bushes
aside, falling and stumbling, but ever on, with clothes torn, hands and
face scratched and bleeding. He heeded not the wounds, he never felt
them, for the awful roar of the onrushing waters was in his ears.
Would he never reach the place! How the trail had lengthened, and the
obstacles, how many there were! What was that? Ah, a cabin. Thank
God, she was safe! He reached the door. He stumbled. He fell. He
regained his feet. He beat upon the wood with his hands. He saw a
light, felt a warm rush of air, and heard a cry of astonishment.

"Run, run!" he shouted. "The water! It's coming! The jam has burst!
For God's sake, save yourselves!"

That was all, all he had time for, then out into the night, and down
the trail straight to the miners' cabins. He reached the forks of the
road. He sped past, and then s