Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25

listened. crouching, with his ear close to
the jamb. The sound resembled breathing
or SO he thought fer moment. Then 1t
seemed rather as If some creature were
softly feeling about the dOor-softly FUN
bling its coating of ice and frozen snow.
Cooney listened. They all listened. Usu-
searching circle of the fire their breath
came from them in clouds 1t trickled
from them now in thin wisps of vapor.
They could almost hear the soft gray ash
dropping on the hearth.
A log sputtered. Then the invalid's voice
clattered in:
ITS the bears-the bears! They've come
after Bill, and next it'll be my turn.
enough. o. Lord. have mercy mer-
cy az He battered off into prayer,
his voice and teeth chattering.
"Hushr' commanded the CATER gently,
and Lashman choked on a sob
1T amt bears" Cooney reported. still
with his ear to the door. "Leastwise -
we've had bears before. The foxes, may
be let me LISTEN
Long Eide murmured: Take us the foxes,
the little foxes -
Il believe you're right" the CATER an
nounced cheerfully "A bear would sniff
louder-though there's no telling. The snow
was falling an hour back. and 1 dessay It's
pretty thick outside. If tits a bear, we
don't want him fooling on the roof, and
misdoubt the drift by the north corner is
pretty tall by this time Is he there still?"
Il felt something then through
the chink, here like warm
| breath. It's gone now. Come here. Snipe
and listen"
Breath. Ell? Did 1t smell like beer?"
Il don't know. . didn't smell
nothing. to- notice. Here, put your head
down close"
The snipe bent his head And at that
moment the door shook gently. All stared,
and saw the latch move up up :
and falteringly descend on the staple They
heard the click of 1t.
The ,rod until l,xrt
bars Against these there had been no
pressure. The men waited in silence that
ached. But the latch was not lifted again.
The Snipe, kneeling, looked up at Cooney.
Cooney shivered and looked at David Fae.1
Long Ede with his back 10 the fire, softly
shook his feet free of the rugs. His eyes
searched for the CATERS face but the old
man had drawn back into the gloom of
his bunk and the lamplght shone only on
a Sray fringe of beard. He saw Long Ede's
look, though. and answered it quietly as
ever
Take a brace of guns aloft, and fetch us
a look round. Wait. II there's a chance of
d shot The trap works. 1 tried it this
afternoon with the cold chisel."
Long Eide lit his pipe. tied down the ear
pieces of his cap lifted a light ladder off
Its staples and set 1t against roof beam;
then. with the guns under his arm quietly
mounted. His head and shoulders wavered
wreaths. Heard anything more?" he ask
ed. Nothing SINCE" answered the Snipe
| With his shoulder Long Eide pushed up the
| trap They saw his head framed in a panel
| of moonlight with one frosty star above it.
He was wriggiing through. pitch him up
sleeping bag, somebody" the CATER or
dered. and Cooney ran with one Thank
ee, mate, said Long EIDE and closed the
| trap.
They heard his feet stealthily crunchine
the frozen stun across the roof. He was
| working toward the caves overlapping tine
door. Their breath frightened. They walt
| ed for the explosion Of his gun None
heard down by the very edge of the caves.
1t mounted to the blunt ridge overhead,
/ then 1t ceased.
He will not have seen aught." David
| Faed muttered.
Listen. you. Listen by the door again. -
| They talked in whispers; there was moth
| ing to be heard. They crept back to the
| fire and stood there, warming themselves.
| keeping their eyes on the latch. 1t did not
| move. After a while Cooney slipped of to
his hammock: Faed to his bunk, alongside
| Lashman's. The CATER had picked up his
| book again. The Snipe laid couple of
| logs On the blaze and remained beside II.
| covering, with his arms stretched out, as
If to embrace it. His shapeless shadow
| wavered up and down on the hunks behind
| him., and. across the fire. he still stared at
1.-THE latch.
| Suddenly the sick mans voice quavered
/ out
IT'S not him they want--it's Bill! They're
! after Bill out there! That was Bill trying
to get In. = Why didn't yer open
| 1t was Bill, I tell yerr
4 At the first word the Snipe had wheeled
right-about-face and stood now pointing
and shaking like man with the ague.
| Matey for the love Of God I
! i won't hush. THERE'S something wrons