The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-08-01

/ tuc VroNfn fhcc OF inc pinster fock.
In the full glare OF the moon, and
stood for a moment Co sniff the air
that cnme blowing lightly, but keen
". over the stlff tops OF the forest.
The wind was clean. II gave him no
tidings of quarry. Descending hur-
rietlly the last 80 yards OF the slope.
he plunged into the darkness Of the
frwoods. Soft as was the snow In
those quiet recesses, IL was yet suf'i-
cicntly packed to support him as he
trotted, noisclcss and alert. on the
broad-spreading pads OF his paws.
Furtive and fierce, he slipped through
the shadow like ghost. Across the
open glades he feetcd more swiftly,
a bright and sinister shape, his head
swinging a little from side to side,
every sense upon the watch. His di-
rection was pretty steadily to the
west OF north.
He had Travelled long, till the direc-
| tion OF the moon shadows had taken
a different angle to his path, when
suddenly there came scent upon the
wind. He stopped. one foot up, AR
rested in his stride. The gray, cloudy
brush of his tail stifYened out. His
nostrils. held high to catch every watt
of the new scent. dilated; and the
edges OF his upper lip came down over
the white fangs, from which they had
been snarlingly withdrawn. His pause
was but for breath or two. Yes.
there was no mistaking II. The scent
was moose-very far OFF, but moose.
without question. He dnrtcd forward
at "A gallop. but with his muzzle still
held higA, following that scent up the
wind.
Presently he struck the trail Of the
herd. An instnnt's scrutiny told his
trained sense that there were calves
and young cows, one or another OF
which he might hope TO stampede by
his cunning. The same instant's
scrutiny revealed To him that the
herd had passed nearly an hour ahead
OF him. Up went the gray cloud OF
his tail and down went his nose: and
then he Strengthened himself TO his
TOP speed. compared to which the
pace whcrewith he had followed the
scent up the wind was "a mere casual
sauntering.
When he emerged upon the open
plateau and reached the spot where
the herd had scattered to browse, he
slackcned his pace and went warily,
peering from side TO side. The COW
moose, lying down in Ahe bushes TO
fondle her imprisoned young, was hid
den from his sight for the moment; I;
and SO II chanccd that before he dis
covered her he came between her and
the wind. That scen,.it was the
! taint of death to her. IL went
through her frame like an electric
shock. With u snort of fear and fury
she heaved 10 her feet and stood.
wide-eyed and with lowered brow,
facing the menace.
The wolf heard that snorting chal.
lenge, and saw the awkward bulk of
her shoulders as she rose above the
scrub. His jaws wrinkled back tight
ly. barring the full length of his keen
white fangs, and grccnish phosphor-
escent film seemed 10 pass suddenly
across his narrow eyeballs. But he
did not spring ut once to the attack.
lie was surprised. Moreover. he in
ferred the calf. from the presence of
the COW apart from the rest of the
herd. Aud full-grown cow moose,
with the mother fury In her heart,
he knew TO be u dangerous adversary.
Though she was hornlcss. he knew the
force of her bnttcring front. the swift,
sharp stroke OF her hoof. the dauntless
intrcpldity Of her courage. Further,
though his own courage and the avid
urge OF his hunger might have led him
under other circumstances to attack
forthwith. tonight he knew that he
must take no chances. The cave in
the blue and white rocks was depend
ing ON his success. His mate. wound
ed and heavy with young-if he let
himself get disabled In this hunting
she. must perish miserably. With
prudent tactics. therefore, he circlcd
at safe distance around the hidden
pit; and around it's rim circlcd the
wary mother, presenting To him
ccaselessly the defiance Of her huge
aud sullen front. By this means he
easily concluded that the calf was u
prisoner In the pit. This being the
ease he knew that with patience and
his experienced craft tho game was
safely his. lie drew Oft some half
dozen PAGES, and sat upon his
launches contcmplntivcly To wcigl,
the situation. Everything had turned
out most fortunately for his hunting
and food would no longer he scarce
in the cave Of the painted rocks
That same night, in n cabin Of un'
uitcrnble loneliness some miles IA
the west Of the trail from the moose
yard u sallow- faced. lean backwoods.
man was awakened by the moonlight
streaming into his face through the
small square window. lie glanced nj
the cmbers on the open hearth. aud
knew that for the white maple logs Ia
been sleeping good six hours. And
he had turned In soon after the early
winter sunset. Rising ON his elbow
he threw down the gaudy patchwork
quilt of red. yellow. blue and notified
squares which drnped the bunk in H.
corner against the rough log walls
lie looked long nj the thin face oi
his wife. whose pale brown hair la,
over The bare arm crooked beneath
her cheek. Her lips looked patheii
cally white in the dccoloriling rays
which sireamcd through the window
His mouth, stubbled with week,
growth of dark beard, twitched curl
ously ns he looked. Then he got up
very noiselessly. Stepping across tn,
bare hard room, whose nIistcrity tn,