The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-03-09
DAILY SHORT
STORY
"WoLF."

face, a lone peak rose into the rare
fed air. It was 35 miles away al
the bee flies: it looked live five
Toward this objective point a mar
had been travelling for six days.
He was lean, ragged, disheveled
Over his shoulder was slung .
bundle containing a shirt, some bis
cult, some dried beef and a box Of
matches, as well as a smaller bun
die Of gold dust. If he could wir
the mountain point he would es
cape the desert and its horrible
thirst.
But his water bottle was empty
had been empty for nearly three
hours, equivalent to three days ir
temperate hands. The sweat had
long since ceased to pour down
his furrowed face. He staggered
along, his pupils pin points under
the glare, his lips and tongue
swollen and numb.
Though he could scarcely lift one
leg before It's fellow, he perse.
vered, for there was a stream near
by-unless he had wandered too
far from it's course. Feverishly
and ceaselessly he scanned the
horizon, vainly.
At his side trotted a lean dog, of
collie breed, wolf" his one faith.
full companion, with tongue hang.
ing from its open mouth and plain
tive eyes turned upon its masters.
Wolf too, was dying of that tor
turing thirst.
At last the man staggered, spun
round and fell. He rose again
weakly and fell down again. The
dog halted and watched him.
How long he lay there he did
not know. He was aroused by the
dismal bowling of the dog. The sun
was sinking. The mans senses
were leaving him, he had awak-
ened to madness. His throat and
mouth seemed to be on fire. And
the dog, lying on the sand 10 PAGES
distant, was bowling without ces'
sation.
Then a thought came to the man
If he could catch that dog, thrust
his keen knife into the throat, and
plunge his teeth into the warm
flesh, he might reveive himself.
He called. The creature dashed
toward him, it's eyes cleaning, its
fangs horribly cleaning. The ere
allure was mad! Wolf, too, seemed
to be waiting, in order to seek sim
liar aid for his own life.
He sat up weakly, and, as the
beast leaped, struck out with all
his power. The blow arrested 1t
1t tumbled backward in a heap and
rolled on the sand, whining fero
ciously.
The man drew his knife and
with cautious cunning, began to
creep toward the animal, which lay
watching him. Now he was within
striking distance; he raised his
knife; again that leap, blow mis-,
calculated-and the blade was
twisted from the mans hand, leav-
ing him defenseless. He lay back
on the sand, watching the beasts
least movement
A large moon now flooded the
plain with silvery light. Which
would give out the sooner? The
dog was plainly in as bad shape
as it's master. Dimly, as in a
dream, the man saw the huge,
couchant, furry form at his side
Let the man close his eyelids for
a moment and the thing would be
at his throat.
And all the while the beast kept
up a monotonous, low whine.
The night went by. The run rose,
hotter than before, till the heat
waves shimmered and danced
across the staring plain. And still
the man and the dog watched and
waited. But the vigil was at an
end. With a groan of helpless de-
spair the man yielded himself to
his fate. He closed his eyes.
He heard the bound of the ami
NAL, he felt it grasp him, felt Its
fangs fasten into his shoulder. But
the beast, having taken him in its
grip, began to drag him. A shud-
der ran through the mans frame
Then he was still.
He was aroused once more. His
hands and face were wet. He
opened his eyes. He was lying
upon the very brink of silvery
stream that dubbed over the sand
And at his side, it's thirst unsatis
fed, the animal sat.
With his last vestige OF strength
the man rolled on his face and
drank deep draughts of the life Civ
ing fluid And then he knew. He
called the beast to his side. and, as
If crOuched down by him and