The state herald., 1914-01-16

me more than anything outdoors. In
the morning her eye KEEP following me
a. II to say. go hnd your father"
Surely It was up to me. and II
wasn't big enough to drive the huskies
or pack fathers gun. thought could
manage afoot to tote his four-pound
az. She beckoned me to her and
kissed me-just once in ten years. and
l was quick through the door. out Of
reach. lest she should see me mighty
near cryin'.
1t was all very well showing OF
brave before mother. but when l got
outside, any excuse would have been
enough for going back. wished I'D
left the matches behind, but hadn't.
I wished the snow would be too soft,
but It was hard as sand. wished
wasn't 4 coward, and the bush didn't
look so wolfy. and what II met up
with the Eskimo devil! oh. was
surely the scaredest III boy. and dead
certain I'd get lost. Then l went on
because was going. and there was IA
Tiers trail blazed on past Bakeapple
Marsh. The way was as plain as
streets. and the sun shining warm as
he looked over into the valley.
Then ! saw a mans mitt. an old
buckskin mitt sticking up out Of the
snow. Father had dropped his mitt.
and without that his hand would be
froze. When l found him. how glad
he'd be to get It!
| nt,t ,hnn \ trtA 20 y,ly
was heavy. Then II came away. and
there was fathers hand sticking up.
1t was dead
or course know I'd ought to have
dug down through the snow. but |
didn't. ran for all ! was worth.
Then got out OF breath and come
back shamed.
1t wasn't for love OF father. No. ]
hated to touch that hand. and when
did l was sick. sull that was better
than being scared to touch. It's not
so bad when you dare.
dug. with a snowshoe for shovel
There was the buckskin shirt smelling
good. and the long fringes I'd used
to tickle his nose with-then found
his face. Just couldn't bear that, but
turned my back and dug until ! came
to the great, big. numberfour trap he
used for wolf and beaver. lie must
have stepped without seeing II under
the snow. and II broke his leg. Then
he'd tried to drag himself back home
II was when stood up to get
breath and cool OF that fst seen the
wolf. setting peaceful. waggin' his tail
First thought he was one OF our
own huskies. but when he didn't know
his name | saw for sure he must be
the wolf who lived up Two Mile Crick
He'd got poor inspecting fathers bust
ness instead OF mindlng his own
That's why he was called the Inspec
tor. II was March. too. the moon OF
famine. or course ! threw my ax
and missed His hungry smiles stiil
thar behind n bush. and mo wonder.
ing whether his business Is with me
or father. That's why ! stepped on
the snow-shoes. and went right past
where he was, not daring to get my
Ak. Yes, II was me he wanted to see
iirst. but OF course ! wasn't going TO
1
he'd scared a man. Why. he'd scarce
have let father even see his tracks for
fear they'd be trapped or shot SO I
walked slow and proud. leadin' him
on from father-at least I played that.
wishing all the time that mothers III
boy was to home After a while
grabbed down n Topped stick where
|
ax. but enough to make mo more or
less respected.
The Inspector was bigger than me.
stronger n any man. swIfter u any
horse. tell yer the named white wolf
In wiher'n most people. and but for
eating his cubs. he's natures gentle.
man.
The trouble was not him hunting.
bu, me scared. Why. II he'd wanted
me. one nash. one bite. and I'm break.
fast II was Just curiosity made him
so close behind like n stcaithy ghost.
When ia turn TO show nght. he'd seem
TO apologize. and then I'D 20 on whis.
tlinE n hymn.
Thar he was cached right ahead In
| h''' '''''"Ht i'f ff'Fs " y "
known. Hut thfashed with my stick
In u panic. hitting his snout. 20 he
yclped Then he lost his temper. He'd
sorry. butbusino-s-ia.b business" en.
precision on him. I ran nt him. trippod
ON a stump. let out yell. and he iop'
straight nt my throat
And In tho middle OF that came
gunshot. n bullet rrased my arm. and
won, on whining. Another shot. and
the Inspector ran. Then was rub.
bing whar the bullet hurt. sort OF
sulky, too, with n grievance. when
was suddenly grabbed and nigh smoth,
cred In mothers arms Shed como
with tho team OF huskior foilowin' me:
aho'd been cunning. too. and I sure
had n mighty close call
Shed no tears lof, Tor father. no
when got through Hobbin' we went
TO tho body, and loaded II In the ko,
| . sfst. -. 40.