Courier Democrat., 1904-12-29

pines, then, In the mtd0Ie. deep, O!ue duO
purple. and. nearer. many shades OF en-
erald TINT ran quite to the white sandy
beach. Right in front stood the rancn
buildings. upon slight rising ground
and surrounded by sturdy palisade
Of upright pointed poles. This was the
castle of the princess. rode up to the
open gate. then turned and stood to
look down upon the marvellous lake
shining and shimmering with its many
radiant colors. Suddenly there was an
awful roar. my pony shot round upon
his hind legs after his beastly cayuse
manner. deposited me sitting upon the
ground and fed down the trail. pur-
sued by two huge dogs that brushed
past me as l fell. was aroused from
my amazement by peal of laughter.
shrill. but full Of music Turning. !
saw my pupil. rs guessed. standing
at the hend Of most beautiful pinto
@potted, pony with heavy cattle quirt
in her hand. scrambled to my feet
and said. somewhat angrily. I fear:
"What are you laughing at? Why
aon't you call back your dogs? They
will chase my pony beyond all reach"
She lifted her little head. shook back
her masses of brown red hair. looked
ut me as II were quite beneath con-
tempt and said, mo, they will kill him."
"Then," said l, for was very angry,
II will kill thcm." pulling at the re-
volver in my belt.
Then she said. and for the first
time noticed her eyes blue black. with
gray rims. II will kill you," and she
whipped out an ugly looking revolver.
From her face had no doubt that she
would not hesitate to do as she had
said. changed my tactics. for was
anxious about my pony, and said, with
my best smile:
Cant you call them back? Won't
they obey you?"
Her face changed in moment.
SIS 1t your pony: Do you love him
very muchT'
"Dearly!' said. persuading myself
Of a sudden affection for the cranky
little brute.
She sprang upon her pinto and set OF
down the trail. The pony was now
coursing up and down the slopes,
doubling like hare. instinctively
avoiding the canyon. where he would
be cornered. he was mad with terror ut
the huge brutes that were silently but
with awful and sure swiftness running
him down.
The girl on the pinto whistled shrilly
and called to her dog: Down. Wolf!
Back. Loo" But, running low, with
long, stretched bodies. they needed not,
but sped on, ever gaining upon the
pony that now circled toward the pinto.
As they drew near in their circling, the
girl urged her pinto to meet them,
loosening her lariat as she went. AS
the pony neared the pinto lie slackened
his speed; Immediately the nearer dog
gathered herself in two short Jumps
and sprang for the pony's throat. But.
even us she sprang. the lariat whiried
round the girls head and fell swift
and sure about the dogs neck. and next
moment she lay choking upon the
prairie. Her mate paused. looked
back and gave up the chase. But dire
vengeance overlook them. for. like one
possessed. the girl fell upon them with
her quirt and beat them one after the
other till. in pity for the brutes, in
terposed.
"They shall do as l say or shall
kill them. shall kill them:' she cried,
ro o;nr apd s<omni,,p
Better shoot them." suggested,
pulling out my pistol.
Immediately she flung herself upon
the one that moaned and whined at
her feet, crying:
III you dare! If you dare" Then
she burst into passionate sobbing.
| "You bad Loo. You bad. dear old Loo!
But you were bad-you know You were
bad." And 50 she went on, with her
arms about Loo's neck till Loo, whin-
ing and quivering with love and de-
light. threatened to go quite mad. and
Wolf. standing majestically near, broke
into short howls Of impatience for his
turn of caressing. They made a strange
group. those three Wild things. equally
fierce and passionate in hate and in
love.
Suddenly the girl remembered me.
and standing up she said. half
ashamed:
They always obey me. They are
mine. but they kill any strange thing
| that comes in through the gate. They
are allowed to-
ut is a pleasant whim."
"What?''
II mean. isn't that dangerous to
strangers:"
"Oh, no one ever comes alone e1-
cept the Duke. And they keep of the
| wolves"
1.-The Duke comes. does he:"
"Yesw and her eyes lit up. He is
my friend. He calls me his princess
and he teaches me to talk and tells
me stories-oh. such wonderful stories"
looked in wonder at her face, so
gentle, SO girlish. and tried to think
back to the picture Of the girl who
few moments before had so coolly
threatened to shoot me and had SO
furiously beaten her dogs.