The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-11-22

: sasnG.< tn mere utterly malfeuxma
sprang to NY feet. gripping Rsski y -
shoulder
~What il thaty' cried
Evolves. mein Herr"
~Win they attack usr'
Calm yourself. msin Herr" ~ IN
swsred graffiy. his eyes still set on tn,
track before him. The winter i young
and their mouths are not empty.
The pace of the horses had dropped &c
slow trot. They advanced stiffiy, with
staring eyes and ears pricked forward.
remained standing. peerinx across the
drivers seat at the white track that ran
dimly away between the banks of pines
Suddenly from snow powdered thick
et before us there burst chorus of low
snaris that grew into ths short. angry
harks of dogs disturbed. With jerk
the horses stopped. trembling aud SQUEEZE
Ing themselves together with the fear
| that was on thern
They have something there" cried
Reski. and there was shudder In his
voice Otherwise they would not be SO
bold. Take the reins. mein Herr"
He thrust them into my hands and
jumped from the seat His pistol dash
ed. and | caught glimpse of forms sour
rying over the snow. Then the darkness
fell again like a veil
What have you foundf' l shouted
Under the trees 1t is hard to see."
came back his answer. "Perhaps-I was
mistaken But wait"
He struck a match. and his tall. thin
figure sprang out in silhouette as be
moved slowly forward. shielding the light
with his hands
Here are the footprints Of the wolves
II was here that they gathered
There Is something by the tree.
1t is not log-ah. no. but il IL not
log. though il lies so STILL
fear to spproaeh-how l fearl Have
mercy. 1t is a man, 1t Is Ivan. my
SOM
We were on Marnac's traIl-ths trail
Of the dead
AT last ii was all over. Alone, for |
dared not leave my hold upon the fright 4
ened horses. Reski carried his son TO the :
sleigh and laid him there beside me. with
a rug across the face. He had been killed
from behind. poor lad. with a revolver
shot In the back of his head He had
refused 10 proceed. and Marnac had not
hesitated- That was plain enough.
thanked God THAI we had been In time I,
to save him from the wolves.
Yet there had been but a short delay
For when Reski had seen his dead be-
slowed upon the sleigh. he had taken
the reins and sent his horses forward He
did not speak. nor did l offer him con-
ISOLATION But as | watched him sitting
above me. peering ahead like some old |
teak figure on a vessels bows. there was
1 grim intensity about the man. fixed
resolve that was strange to witness. SO
We fed through the night. down the
avenues Of pines. bearing
,ur dead with US.
1t was one O'Clock whssn ma liz upon I
! wayside inn. Our clamor aroused the 1
landlord. who directed US to where ket- 7
lie simmering on the stove gave a warm
nash for the horses and hot coffee for
He was sleepily injurious.
Ior did he inquire what was the thing
eneath the rugs which we carried with .
s. But he gave us news. Marnac had c
1T there less than two hours before. He
ad been greatly delayed by a collision n
nth tree. and some rough repairs had I,
cen necessary. One Of his horses. too "
AZ bcrA HHNhtAJ Adtlru ft Asrrhh
bowed no unusual interest In the tale
e heard. He spent his time with his :
orses, grooming and soothing them IL =
az not till they had rested three-quar-
RS Of an hour that be called me out
ON my seat By the stove, and again we
vept away upon the chase. g.
IL was Mt dawn that we sighted him.
e was climbing a long slope. a black
eek in the white riband Of a road. :.
hove him. long fakes Of orange cloud
ere slowly Frightening and deepening ~
color. As he topped the hill, the sun hs
me peering up over moorland heaped so
til tumbled drifts. The sky flushed te
d faded to a deep cobalt blue SO day br
me. vi
1t almost seemed as If our horses UNI =.
rstood They increased their pace
thout a touch Of the whip, Juggling at ~
; frozen. twisted reins. As they. too, no
se the hill. Reski shouted to them. and oc'
y stepped briskly forward. The fresh an
Nv bad frozen. and we Travelled well. ar.
surface cracking as we crushed over II
We were less than quarter of a 90,
Ie from him when he turned and no. ~.
cd US. We saw him spring to his feet
! lash his team. but the off-side horse ns
$ running stiffiy and his pace scarcely ths
reased He leaned down. fumbling 10
! searching at bis feet. while he held mu
reins in one hand. After that he in
not hurry. but drove steadily forward, exr
ncing at US now and again over bis ya,.
ulder. -.
Ito be contirued.l