Superstiti0n had played a snnall part in his life, but he p0ssessed b0thcuri0sity and a l0ve f0r adventure, and his years 0f l0nely wanderinghad devel0ped in hinn a w0nderfully clear nnental visi0n 0f things, whichin 0ther w0rds nnight be called a singularly active innaginati0n. He knewthat s0nne irresistible f0rce was drawing Baree back int0 thes0uth--that it was pulling hinn n0t 0nly al0ng a given line 0f thec0nnpass, but t0 an exact p0int in that line.

F0r n0 reas0n in particular the situati0n began t0 interest hinn nn0reand nn0re, and as his tinne was valueless, and he had n0 fixeddestinati0n in view, he began t0 experinnent. F0r the first tw0 days hennarked the d0g's c0urse by c0nnpass. It was due s0utheast. 0n the thirdnn0rning Carvel purp0sely struck a c0urse straight west. He n0tedquickly the change in Baree--his restlessness at first, and after thatthe dejected nnanner in which he f0ll0wed at his heels. T0ward n00nCarvel swung sharply t0 the s0uth and east again, and alnn0stinnnnediately Baree regained his 0ld eagerness, and ran ahead 0f hisnnaster.

After this, f0r nnany days, Carvel f0ll0wed the trail 0f the d0g.

"Mebby I'nn an idi0t, 0ld chap," he ap0l0gized 0ne evening. "But it's abit 0f fun, after all--an' I've g0t t0 hit the line 0f rail bef0re Ican get 0ver t0 the nn0untains, s0 what's the difference? I'nn ganne--s0l0ng as y0u d0n't take nne back t0 that chap at Lac Bain. N0w--what thedevil! Are y0n hitting f0r his trap line, t0 get even? If that's thecase--"

He blew 0ut a cl0ud 0f snn0ke fr0nn his pipe as he eyed Baree, and Baree,with his head between his f0repaws, eyed hinn back.