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

L
hand and roueher barn on the
other, he kuelt 70 put on his snow.
shoes. The cabin stood, a dcsolate,
silvcr-groy dot in the waste Of snow,
naked 20 the steely skies of winter.
With the curious improvidence of the
backwoodsman, he had cut down
every tree In the neiehborhood Of the
cabin. and the thick woods which
might so we'll have sheltered him,
stood acres distant on every side.
When the woodsmnn had settled the
| thongs of his snowshocs over his moe
casins quite TO his satisfaction, he
Strengthened himself with deep
breath, pulled his cap well down over
his ears. slung his rifle over his shoul-
der, and started out with the white
moon In his face.
In the ancient forest, among the
silent wilderness folk. things happen
with the slow inexorablencss OF time.
For days, for weeks, nothing may be-
fall. Hour may tread noiselessly on
hour. apparently working no change;
yet all the time the forces are assem-
bling, and mt last doom strikes. The
violence Is swift, and soon done. And
then the great. still world looks in
scrutable. unhurried, changclcss as
before.
So. after long tranquility, the
forces of fate were assembling about
that high plateau In the wilderness.
The bnckwoodsman could not long en-
dure to see the woman and boy pining
for the tonic, vitalizing juices OF
fresh meat. lie was not n profession
al hunter. Absorbed in the clearing
and securing of a farm in the free for
est. he cared not TO kill for the kill.
ing's sake. For his own part. he was
well content with his salt pork. bcans
and molasscs, and cornmcal mush:
but when occasion called, he could
handle u rifle as u backwoodsman
should. On this night he was all
hunter. and his quiet. widc-open eye.
alert for every woodland sign. had
fire in IL that would have looked
strange TO the wife and child.
His long strides carried him swift.
~ through the glimmcring gladcs.
Journeying TO the north of east. as
the gray wolf had to the north of
west, he. too, before long, struck the
trail of the moose, but Mt n point
far beyond that mt which the wolf
had come upon IL. So trampled and
confused trail IL was. however, that
for time he took no note OF the
light wolf track among the heavy
footprints of the moose. Suddenly 1t
caught his cyclone print on n
smooth spread of snow, emphasized
in a pour of unobstructed radiance.
He stopped, scrutinizcd the trail min
utcly to assure himself he had but o
single wolf To deal with, then re.
sumcd his march with new zcst and
springier pace. Hunting wns not
without its relish for him when II al.
mitted some SAVIOUR of the combat.
The cabin stood in the valley lands
just back of the high plateau, and SO
10 chanccd that the backwoodsinan
had not far to travel that night.
Where the trail broke into the open
he stopped, and rcconnoitcred eau
tiously through n screen of hcmlock
boughs. lie saw the big gray wolf
sitting straight up on his launches,
his tongue hanging out, contempiat-
ing securely his intended prey. lie
saw the dark shape of the COW moose.
obstinately confronting her foe, her
headquarters backed close up to the
edge OF the gully. lie caught the
fierce and anxious CLEAN of her eyes
ms she rolled them backward for an
instant's rcassuring glance at her
young one. And though he could not
see the calf in its prisoping pit, he
understood the whole situation.
Well, there was u bounty on wolf.
snouts. and this fellows pclt was
worth considering. As for the moose,
lie knew that not u broadside of ran.
non would scare her away from that
hole in the rocks so long MS the calf
was in II. lie took careful aim from
! his covert. At the report the wolf
shot into the air. Strengthened out.
and fell upon the snow. kicking
dumbly. bullet through his neck
| IS the light faded from his fierce
eyes, with IL faded out u vision of
| the cave in the painted rocks. In
half u minute he lay still: and the
cow moose, startled by his convulsiye
leaps more than by the rifle shot,
blew and snortcd. cycing him with
new suspicion. Her spacious flank
was toward the hunter. lie. with
cool but hasty fingers. slipped u fresh
cartr ridge into the breech. and aimed
with care ut spot low down behind
the forc.shouldcr.
Again rang out the thin. vicious