New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-18
CHAPTER XIII
THE LOCP GAROC.

When they arose at dawn. stiff and aching,
the dogs had disappeared They shouted vocif-
erously and presently some mounds Of snow
broke open and the animals bounded from their
shelter. The storm had ceased, but clouds OBJ
secured the sun. and the lost ones looked in vain
for the peak or the defiie. Many miles in the
distance they saw a billy country, and about
noon they reached a pass between the hills. Il
led by gradual ascent to a desolate lakeland
d neasureless. barren plain. Not tree grew
upon il, not z winter bird lowered in the air,
not trace OF living thing was near. The great
waste lay in q silence Unbroken save by the
CRY 0f the wind.
Even the wild creature does forsake it," said
De light it ten US. de red light" mourned
Louis. II warn US Of de evil. Here do we
arrive 10 die Nevermore do We return
Upon me is the SIM" cried Jacques MY
promise 10 Mademoisene Ulrica is broken: l dld
assure her / would preserve Ivan from danger,
and behold. ! have not kept my word"
Don't be a blooming idiot. Jacques. said
Ivan eraTharicaIly. You are no more respon-
sble than ] am I'm not going 10 plead the
baby act You could not foresee that storm.
And Vi no says We are lost. starved, frozen, any
way? Let's hustle around and ind a way out
After We've had a square meal Wen feel Joller
The square meal consisted Of portion OF
dried meat and bareback with snow TO quench
the thirst There was no fuel in sight for
FIRE Louis suggested burning the toboggans
but his companions said no. not yet.
Were not so hard up those fellows who
went 10 the barren grounds and lived for days
on boiled moose skin and made soup from one
little mouse. At the worst, we can boil our
moose skins"
De dogs must have feed" returned Louis
oespa1dently. "Au dat we have is not enough
1or Der one good dinner"
Al the moment the dogs We're snarling over
their ueagre fare, and when they had devoured
every scrap they looked up with fierce. hungry
eyes. The eyes grew hercer, more hungry, the
Jury more ominous days passed, each day
bringing diminished portion. The travellers
Aad twice returned 10 the lake and crossed from
one shore 10 another, only TO find themselves on
similar dreary plateau. After earnest consul
latlon they had decided 10 make for what ap-
peared 10 be q forest 10 the westward. Day
after day the clouds hung low, and from time To
tine snow fell The dimmed light relieved the
eyes from binding glare. but II was depressing
eAl increased the difficulties OF travel More
IMAM once unwilling lips had broached the ques-
bon whether self-preseryatlon demanded the
sacrifice u one or more Of the dogs. II had
been difficult 10 restrain them from tearing one
another, and at any moment they might attack
IIher masters. All the boys knew Wen that other
Vanishing brutes OF that breed had devoured
human beings, and Louis, the prophet or eVl
recalled some hideous stories
on day when the starving. maddened ami
mails had eaten the last scrap Of food, the wanr
oerers came upon a thicket Of tall trees The
ss1t ~ vegetation renewed hope and energy
me boys chopped wood, kndled a fire and boiled
some strips from a moose skin that they had
used as a covering. adding TO the stew guam
t} u the inner bark Of a tree. The larger
P9tLDu Of the sOftened skin Quieted the raging
~ TIE dogs. AS the friends sat around the
IRE that evening Louis started and bent his ear
as u listening.
What's UpZ' inquired Ivan.
Louis held up his finger as a signal Of silence.
ara whispered IN awe-flIed voice: Don
you hear him2 Don you know all il mean?
Dat is-it is--de lop garou,"
. ivan smiled incredulOusly. He had heard of
the loup Sarou. the werewolf, the IN the
form u a wolf who lives on human flesh. but
ne had no more faith ia II than in other super
sujions of his companion Jacques also was
Heftcai, but his artistic temperament inclined
nm 10 enjoy folklore and fairy tales, and 10
retain a sernblance OF belief IN them.
J hear il now" SAID Ivan 1T is far dis
tant. dismal howl What makes you think il is
ne l9up garOUy'
Because, once before I hear H. once when I
IaNel Wit my uncle. He tells me il is de evil
wolf DE SCUM OF him is more differen' dan
any oder"
Seldom is a wolf discovered IN Labrador"
said jacques. In the barren grounds where
are the caribou, there also the wolves; else
Where they have become most rare"
Let's have our guns ready for the fellow"
advised Ivan. He seems 10 be heading this
way
de gun what is dat?" asked Louis. DE
loup garou. no gun can destroy. He appear
De disappear Where he 60 no eye can behoI'
To shoot him, ] would not dare
I'd dare" replied Ivan. Come on, Mr.. Loup
Garou"
NO. no. say not dat" besought Louis. May