Page:The trail of the golden horn.djvu/91

Rh furiously in the arms of her assailant, tearing at the man’s face and head, and ripping away a portion of his cap in her desperation. A growl of rage rumbled up in Hugo’s throat as he thought of the foul attack upon a helpless girl. Suppose it had been his own daughter! What if Marion were now in the clutches of that inhuman brute, whoever he might be! He turned and looked off toward the right. Placing the piece of cloth carefully in a pocket of his jacket, he walked slowly toward the trail, keeping his eyes fixed intently upon the foot-prints, which here were only a man’s size. Reaching the trail, he saw that the steps led in the direction of Big Chance. How far had the villain gone? he asked himself. No doubt he had a team of dogs near, and by now he was far away with his captive. It was most unlikely that he would take the girl back to the little mining camp where her father was living. He knew Siwash Sam, a man who minded his own business, but when once aroused his wrath was terrible. Only a devil or a madman would think of interfering with his only daughter, the pride of his life. But Bill, the Slugger, was both, he was well aware. He was a devil in badness, and his passion for the beautiful half-breed girl had turned his brain. Hugo knew of other deeds of infamy he had committed, and had so cleverly covered up his trail as to escape the far-reaching hands of the Police. But now he should not escape, was the trapper’s determination. He himself would be the avenger of the innocent if the Law did not get him first.

The thought of the Law caused Hugo to look quickly around. Then he gave a sarcastic grunt as he hurried along the trail.

“Hugo, you fool,” he muttered, “you better look