Page:Edison Marshall--The voice of the pack.djvu/273

Rh all night to build it, and it would cut down your chances of getting out by pretty near half. Remember the ridges, Dan—"

"But we 'll climb every ridge—besides, its a slow, down grade most of the way. Snowbird—tell him he must do it."

Snowbird told him, overpowering him with her enthusiasm. And Dan shook his shoulders with rough hands. "You 're hurting, boy!" Lennox warned. "I'm a bag of broken bones."

"I 'll tote you down there if I have to tie you in," Dan Failing replied. "Before, I 've bowed to your will; but this time you have to bow to mine. I'm not going to let you stay here and die, no matter if you beg on your knees! It's the test—and I'm going to bring you through."

He meant what he said. If mortal strength and sinew could survive such a test, he would succeed. There was nothing in these words to suggest the physical weakling that both of them had known a few months before. The eyes were earnest, the dark face intent, the determined voice did not waver at all.

"Dan Failing speaks!" Lennox replied with glowing eyes. He was recalling another Dan Failing of the dead years, a boyhood hero, and his remembered voice had never been more de-