Jean's assurance that the mysterious enemies who had twice attempted his life were only a short distance behind them, or a short distance ahead, set a new and desperate idea at work in his brain.

He was confident that these men from the Wekusko were his chief menace, and that with them once out of the way, and with the Frenchman in his power, the fight which he was carrying into the enemy's country would be half won.

There would then be no one to recognize him but Meleese.
His heart leaped with joyous hope, and he leaned forward on the sledge to examine Croisset's empty gun.

It was an automatic, and Croisset, glancing back over the loping backs of the huskies, caught him smiling.
He ran more frequently now, and longer distances, and with the passing of each mile his determination to strike a decisive blow increased.

If they reached the trail of Meleese and Jackpine before the crossing of the second sledge he would lay in wait for his old enemies; if they had preceded them he would pursue and surprise them in camp.