The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-11-24

from the cleft of the rock His paws
struck upon the rock here where it is
smooth, and there for a second he
seemed to cling, while his great jaws
closed with clash but spears breadth
beneath the dead mans foot Then he
fell back and drew slowly down the
cave. Again he ran and leaped, again
the great jaws closed, again he fell
arose, and they sprang together, striving
to pull him down who sat above. But
1t was all in vain; they could never
come nearer than within a spears
breadth of the dead mans foot. And
now you know why the rock is smooth
and shines. Night upon night they had
leaped thus against the wall Of the cave.
but never might their clashing jaws
close upon his foot. One foot they had
come by.
Now as watched, filled with fear
and wonder the she wolf. her tongue
lolling from her jaws, made SO mightya
pound that she almost reached the hang
ing foot, and get not quite. She fell
back. and then saw that the leap was
ner last for that time. for she had over
sprung herself. and lay there bowling.
the black blood flowing from her mouth
The wolf saw also: he drew near shifted
at her, then, knowing that she was hurt,
seized her by the throat and worried
her The she wolf grew faint, for the
white fangs of her mate We're buried in
her throat Then saw that now was
the time to smite him, lest when he had
killed her he should kill me also So 1
lifted the Watcher and sprang into the
cave, having it in my mind to Stay the
wolf before he lifted up his head But
he heard my footsteps, or perhaps my
shadow fell upon him. Loosing his
grip he looked up: then, making no
sound, he sprang straight at my throat
smote him with all my strength The
blow met him in midair and struck him
to the earth. But before could smite
again, once more he sprang at me.
leaped aside and smote downward, and
the blow broke his right leg, SO that he
could spring no more. Yet he ran at
me on three feet, and seized me with his
teeth, biting through that leather bag
which was wound about my middle, into
the flesh behind. Then yelled with
pain, and lifting the Watcher endways,
drove it down with so great a stroke
that the skull of the wolf was shattered
and he fell dead, dragging me down
with him. Presently l sat up. and fore
ing the Watcher between his jaws lev
cred them open, freeing my flesh from
the grip Of his teeth Presently
glanced up and saw that the she wolf
had found her feet again, and stood as
though unhurt: yet she did not look at
me or on her dead mate, but at him only
who sat above. crept softly behind her:
then. lifting my Watcher, dashed him
down with all my strength The blow
broke her neck, so that she rolled over
dead.
Now i rested awhile, then went to
the mouth of the cave and looked out.
The sun was sinking; the depth of forest
was black, but the light still shone on
the face of the stone woman on the
mountain Here, then, must bide this
night, for dared not wend toward the
plains alone with the wolves and the
ghosts. And if | dared not go alone.
how much less should dare to go bear
ing with me him who sat in the cleft of
the rock! Nay, here | must abide and
feeling that must do something lest
should go mad. drew to me the car
cass of the great dog wolf which had
Ix111 f.,l,
began to skin it by the light OF the
moon For an hour or more skinned.
singing to myself as | worked. and
striving to forget him who sat in ti!e.
cleft above and the howlings which ran
about the mountains
Now the skin was off cast it be-
hind me, and selzlng the carcass dragged
it to the edge of the rock and left 1T.
Presently the howllngSdrew near again
again saw the gray shapes creep np
one by one
Did sleep or did wake? Nay, 1
do not know. But | know this, that of
sudden seemed to look up and see.
saw light perchance. it was the
light Of the moon shining upon him
that sat aloft at the end of the cave.
looked, or seemed to look, and then
thought that the hanging jaw moved,
and from it came voice that was harsh
and hollow.
Hail, Galazi, child of Siguyana!
said the voice. 'Galazi the Wolf! Say.
what dost thou here in the Ghost noun
tain, where the Stone Witch sitsy
Then ! answered, or seemed to an
swer:
Hail, Dead One, who sittest like a
vulture on a rock! do this on the
Ghost mountain come to seek thy
bones and bear them to thy mother for
burial
MANY and many year have sat
aloft, Galazi, answered the voice,
watching the ghost wolves leap and
leap to drag me down, till the rock grew
smooth beneath the wearing of their
feet. Sol sat seven days and nights,
being yet alive. the hungry wolves be-
low and hunger gnawing at my heart.
So have sat many and many year,
being dead in the heart of the old Stone