The National tribune., 1902-09-11
THE WOLF STALKER.
Continued from first page.)

kept him from displaying any show OF
| alarm at the warning whistle of the In
dian in ambush as they hai come down
the river. He appeared perfectly COM
posed now, while his penetrating gaze took
in the scene on every hand.
In the midst of this anxious suspense
a harsh bark, rising abeve sharp express
sion of pain, the mingling cries followed
by prolonged howl bearing an unmis-
taxable accent of triumph. came clearly
| over the eXpanse of water from the woods
beyond.
What is that?' asked Tom, who was
becoming nervous under the strain of the
situation.
"Some greedy wolf that has captured
a deer, and is calling his mates to share
with him in the feast" replied Gray Cliff.
II hope it is not the white deer" de-
clared Billie Stark.
'YOn canoe sets amazing low for one
empty" said the Forester, more to himself
than his companions. The prowling wolf
had occupied but a passing thought in his
mind. 1T be an amazement for us to I'M
snarl. And there's another knot in the
string up yon, lads. Look, if you doubt
the old mans speech"
They were now far enough removed
| from the shore of the pond to command
| a wide view of the forest henches reach
| ing away to the foot of the mountains.
| Near the center of this dark cOuntenance
Of wildwood, at the-very brow of the up
per ridge, John Stark and his companions
| saw an orb of light that seemed stationary
on the night scene.
Our campfire" declared John. "Some
one has put more fuel on the flames, for
there was only small blaze when We
left it."
"Watch it, said the Forester. "If he
not mistaken you will not have the privi-
lege long," =
As he finished speaking dark body
came between them and the fire shielding
it's light from them for little while.
Then swift change took place. The
whole fiery mass seemed to be suddenly
lifted into the air, when it burst into in
Vulnerable fragments, which flew in every
direction. Some of them were carried up
ward with sundry curves and semi-cir-
cles to expire as they began to descend to-
ward the earth, while others flew high and
straight into the night, growing fainter as
they sped up, until they, too, died out in
the darkness Of the space overhead. Where
a moment before had been seen the cheer
full glow of the primitive hearth a patch
of black smoke smirched the starlit night.
"The plumed pagans have found that
you have gone and are venting their rage
ON the brands O. fire. Nows me, that is
n wanton waste O. discretion. l pity-the
simple-minded red who lacks. the human
sympathy to spare even campfire which
makes a harmless window in the black
wall O. night"
Il wonder where we should have been,
Gray Cliff had you permitted us to remain
there" said Billie Stark.
"Tut-tut, lad, small credit belongs to
me. How dark the place is now-darker
than elsewhere, as if human soul had
been plucked from it's abiding place.
ne'er see a campfire without thinking o
home, and the sweet memory that clngs
there like a tender vine. 1t may be a
weakness which comes with the years, but
oft as l have kindled my campfire in the
solitude Of the great green wood, and
watched the bronze O. the evening sky
deepen into the black o night, have felt
that Natur' was taking on mourning for
the loss O. day. Then have watched the
shadows jumping and skipping about like
so many imps O. darkness playing at hide
and seek, but the sacred circle O. the
campfire was a line they ne'er cross. /
have watched 'em tilt against each other,
some leetle fellow pitting himself pell
nell against giant, that would be toppled
over like clumsy, overgrown child tco
weak in its limbs to stand. But he would
rally, and return to the fray followed by
dozen others, all breshing against each
ClHCE WILL lue U WOlN tS
Shadows are always at war with each
ether, just as evil always fights its kin,
until driven out by good, as daylight con-
quers darkness.
1T may be pleasant to muse by the
cheerful hearth O. the home, l low, but
there be more than the comfort and pride
o the highest castle in the world found
by the campfire. Its walls have been
raised by no mortal hand, and who sits
bnf faaI hot ha 10 ;nclncod
ia heavenly shelter. The campfire carves
out O. the space chimney that sends its
smoke back into your eyes, while it frames
in the houseless air window which may
be seen as far as the eye can perambulata.
Il beacon that proclaims to the beholdcr
Il message O. peaceful content
''Ay. lads, love the campfire; love
its solitude; love its freedom; l love its
sacred friendship; upon its altar lay my
cares. The fatigues O. the day are for
gotten; the hunger o. the long trail, fed;
the gun-sLot that is the messenger o
death. s:ltnced; the cry O. pain, soothad;
everything that warred with peace now
slumbers like a fretful child sinking into
rest Oh its mothers breast. Not only does
the merry blaze warm my poor body, but
forgotten joys O younger days, build their
camp fires liz my heart, unit! my soul
awakens to the thrill O. double life U
joyment.
'There may be loneliness in the camp
fire to him who has not given himself
fully into Natur's keeping. He may be
timid O. the sounds that fall on the ear
that harkens for 'em, but to me the roar o
the cataract, the sigh O. the pine, the
thunder O. the tempest be songs in har
mony with the revelations O. the wild
wood, while the hoot O. the owl, the
scream O. the painter, and the howl O. the |
wolf, if sich there be, are like the
calls O. 'em as are fraid in the dark. |
1 think O. the background O. night |
as their hunting-ground, while mine is the
tempted court O. the campfire, which rem |
ders to me its protection without seeking |
any In return, which reveals to me its |
secrets without betraying mine.
How my old tongue runs on like an !
equinoctial gale, with this fancy O. mine,
which be- |
"How fast that canoe is moving for one |
that is not propelled by human arm,"
said John Stark, as the Forester stopped |
in the midst of his speech.
''Now's me-" declared the other, "there
be a sight ashore that holds my eye just
now. If my old eyes do not deceive me,
that be Plausawa, the friendly red, but |
who or what that be on his heels it be not
sich as me to say"
Already the three boys had turned their
gaze in the direction indicated by their
older companion, when they beheld sight
which fairly froze the blood in their veins
and fixed in their minds eye picture they
would never forget.
AS the words of the Forester had led