Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-10-26


"Well, good-by."
The snow spurted from under theii
horses hoofs as they swung on to the
north road. Then my driver shouted to
his team, and we, too, rushed forward,
but on the other track curving south
and east. For a minute l could hear
their bells tinkling an echo in the dis
tance. Then they died away into ST.
lence.
Ny interest in the chase suddenly ex
panded. Now that my cousin had desert
ed me, it seemed an ugly, dangerous
business Marnac would stop at moth
ing, that was certain, Supposing we
should chance upon this desperate ma
MAC, what then? My driver was arm
ed, and had the appearance of bold,
courageous man. Was he so in reality
| stared up at his back and wondered.
We had Travelled the half of mile, |
when from the black of the forest be-
fore us rose a cry, fierce, chuckling
bay that sent the horses plunging across
the road. In the solitude of those ice
bound woods it sounded the more threat
ening, the more utterly malignant. l
spraug to my feet, gripping Reski by the
shoulder.
"What is that?' l cried.
evolves, mein Herr"
"Will they attack usT
Calm yourself, mein Herr" he an.
swered grutily his eyes still set on the
track before him. ''The winter is young,
and their mouths are not empty.
The pace of the horses had dropped to
slow trot. They advanced sttily, with
staring eyes and ears pricked forward. l
remained standing, peering across the
drivers seat at the white track that ran
dimly away between the banks of pines.
Suddenly from snow-pOwdered thick
ct before us there burst a chorus of low
snarls that grew into the short, angry
barks of dogs disturbed. With a jerk
the horses stopped, trembling and squeez-
ing themselves together with the fear
that was on them.
"They have something there" cried
Reski, and there was a 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 fash
ed. and l caught glimpse of forms sour
rying over the snow. Then the darkness
fell again like veil.
what have you foundF | shouted.
"Under the trees it is hard to see,
came back his answer. "Perhaps-l was
mistaken. But wait"
He struck a match, and his tall, thin
I figure sprang out in silhouette as ht
moved slowly forward, shielding the ligh
r with his hands.
Here are the footprints of the wolves
it was here that they gathered
o There is something by the tree.
p 1t is not a log-ah, no! but it is no
I a log, though it lies so still.
+ fear to approach-how l fear Hav
A mercy! 1t is a man! 1t is Ivan, m,
q sonr'
a We were on Marnac's trail-the trai
q of the dead.
n At last it was all over. Alone, for
l. dared not leave my hold upon the frigh
l. ened horses, Reski carried his son to tn
n sleigh and laid him there beside me, wit
a rug across the face. He had been kille
h from behind, poor lad, with a revolve
/ shot in the back of his head. He ha
D. refused to proceed, and Marnac had NJ
l hesitated. That was plain enough.
g thanked God that we had been in tim
II to save him from the wolves.
Yet there had been but a short della,
IN For when Reski had seen his dead b.
le slowed upon the sleigh, he had. take
n the reirM and sent his horses forward. 81
d did not speak, nor did l offer him col
e. ISOLATION. But as l watched him sittir
in above me, peering ahead like some o.
4. hteak figure on a vessels bows, there WI
s. grim intensity about the man, fixt
re resolve that was strange to witness.
"a we fled through the night, down Il
st interminable avenues Of pines, bearir
n our dead with us.
ef 1t was one o'clock when VIC lit upC
wayside inn. Our clamor aroused Il
landlord, who directed us to where Ike
tie simmering on the stove gave war
i'd mash for the horses and hot coffee fl
IN ourselves. He was sleepily incuriou
ed nor did he inquire what was the thil
in beneath the rugs which we carried wi
ck us. But he gave us news Marnac h'
lg left there less than two hours before. I
ur had been greatly delayed by a collisi'
n with a tree, and some rough repairs h'
d. been necessary. One of his horses to
he had been slightly lamed. Yet Res
of showed no unusual interest in the ia
W. we heard. He spent his time with b
We horses, grooming and soothing them.
of was not till they had rested three-qua
an ters of an hour that he called me o
ut from my seat by the stove, and again
at swept away upon the chase
vn 1t was at dawn that we sighted hi
Id. He was climbing a long slope, bla
IN speck in the white riband of roa
of Above him, long fakes of orange clio
were slowly Frightening and deepeni
he. in color. AS he topped the hill, the s.
he came peerng up over moorland heap
&C. with tumbled drifts. The sky flush
we and faded to deep cobalt blue. So d
we came.
1t almost seemed as if our horses u
, derstood. They increased their pa
he ,r;tbout a tourh of thp WhiD. tugCing