The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-01

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lie heard far away yclping In The
depths Of the forest and headed toward
the sound. Jackals hunt In packs. The
coward streak i their nature, too, and
they know they are more powerful when
banded together.
After long run Bayal entered
clearing In the forest and saw q score
OF fellow jackals leaping about, quarrel
ing. swapping at one another hungrily
but each fearful Of engaging In open
fight. Near them sqliatted their leader.
old and gray, thinner. than the rest. per.
haps more hungry-and surely more
wi,r. lie caught glimpse oi Bayal
and darted toward him.
"a strangerl' he snarled, with defiant,
blood.shot eyes flashing an evil light.
Where do yo,i come from''
"Why are YOU here'" the leader In.
.guired suspiciously.
To Join your pack, and hunt In your
company" said Bayal.
"will you obey my word," asked the
leader.
"'fhen you may join u.s."
That pleased Bayal. There seemed
more chance Of securing prey In com.
pany with these Rerce.eyed jaekals sur.
rounding him than In hunting alone.
And he was hungry.
None Of the band welcomed Bayal or
even noticed him except 10 snarl and
snap II he came too near; but he was as
powerful as any among them, and they
had respect for his size and took care
not TO provoke him openly.
Before long scout came darting In
with good news A few miles away he
had tracked wounded stag
With joyful yelps the pack was or,
following their leader In swift lope
toward the trail Of their victim. And
llayal ran with the rest, his strong
limb. keeping him close In the wake Of
the gray chieftRin.
Such speed covered the ground quick.
ly, and before long they came upon the
stag who limped painfully down wood.
land path and was unable 10 increase
his pace as he heard the hungry yelps
Of the jackals.
Look out!" cried the leader 10 his
pack; for the stag trembling and ter.
riBed, turned suddenly upon them, and
throwing up his antlercd head stood at
bay.
Most Of the pack drew back on the
instant, yelping wildly but Bayal Jid
not understand. The sight OF the prey
reused him to fury, and his hunger made
him careless Of danger
he launched his body at the stays
throati ;but he never reached Il, for
the prongs Of the antlers met him.
Shaking his head 6ercely, the stag
dislodged his foe and trampled him un-
der foot, Then he turned threateningly
upon the circle OF howling jackals which
summoned him 10 death yet feared 10
venture near.
The body Of Bayal quivered and pres
emily he found strength TO creep away
from the feet OF the maddened stag. But
now every member OF the pack turned
greedy eyes upon the manned and help.
less jackal, licking their hungry jaws
as the leader said;
"lle disobeyed me, and death is his
portion. Fall upon him my brayesl lie
may hold our hunger IN check until we
are able to pull down the stag"
Bayal listened in horror, and shrank
back toward the stag, seeking refuge
where the jackals dared not tread. To
he devoured by his own kind seemed a
fate more dreadful than 10 he gored
10 death by the Forest King himself.
"Athlos!" he cried, terrified at the
approach OF death. Athlos. come 10 mel
Il have been wrong, Athlos," he
moaned, wrong and wicked in my wish
to wear form other than my own.
| have been punished. and repent.
Farewell, Athlo~, for diet"
Indeed, his eyes were already glazing
as the fairy reached out and touched
him pityingly. But at the touch MS
pain passed from him, his heart gave
a sudden throb Of joy, and he stood up,
full Of health. and bowed low before
the guardian of his race. His long quilts
trailed low upon the ground; his small
hack eyes looked happily upon the
dawn of the coming day; his soul swell.
ed with peace.
For the kind fairy had befriended
him in spite Of his folly and rebellion,
and had given him back his own form.
In lonely part Of the wilderness
Bayal the Porcupine has won the repu-