Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-31
Chapter III
INTO THE NORTH.


WY yONDERFUL days followed for
w Kazan. He missed the forests and
deep SHOWS. He miss ed tho daily strifo OF
keeping his teammates in trace, the yap-
ping at his heels, the straight long pull
over the open spaces and tho barrens.
He missed tho "Koosh-koosh-Hoo YAH"
OF the driver. tho spiteful snap OF his 20
foot caribou-gut whip. and that yelping
and straining behind him that told him
he had his followers in line. But some-
thing had come to take the place OF that
which he missed. 1t was in the room, in
the air all about him. even when the girl
or HIS master was not near. Wherever
she had been, he found the presence OF
that strange thing that took away his
loneliness. 1t was the woman scent, and
sometimes 1t made him whine softly when
the girl herself was actually with him.
He was not lonely, nights, when he
should have been out bowling at the stars
He was not lonely. because one night he
prowled about until he found certain
door. and when the girl opened that door
in the morning she found him curled up
tight against it. She had reached down
and hugged him, the thick smother of
her long hair falling all over him in a
delightful perfume: thereafter she placed
rug before the door for him to sleep
on. All through the long nights he knew
that she was Just beyond the door, and
he was content Each day he thought
more of her.
Then there came the beginning o. tho
change, There was a strange hurry and
excitement around him, and the girl paid
less attention 20 him. He grew uneasy.
He sniffed the change In the air, and
he began to study his masters face. Then
there came the morning. very early. when
the bablchs collar and the iron chain
were fastened to him again. Not until
he had followed his master out through
the door and into the street did he begin
to understand. They were sending him
away He sat suddenly back on his
launches and refused TO bulge.
"Come, Kazan," coaxed the man.
''Come on. boy"
He hung back and showed his white
fangs He expected the lash of a whip
or the blow of club. but neither came
His master laughed and took him back
to the house. When they left It again
the girl was with them and walked with
her hand touching his head. 1t was she
who persuaded him to leap up through
big dark hole into the still darker in
terror OF car. and It was she who lured
him to the darkest corner OF all. where
his master fastened his chain. Then they
went out. laughing like two children. For
hours after that Kazan lay still and
tense. listening TO the queer rumble Of
wheels under him. Several times those
wheels stopped, and he heard voices out
side. At last he was sure that he heard |
a familiar voice. and he strained at his |
chain and whined. The closed door slid |
back man with lantern climbed IN. |
followed by his master. He paid no at |
tention TO them. but glared out through |
the opening into the gloom of night He |
almost broke loose when he leaped down
upon the white snow, but when he saw
no one there he stood rigid. smiling the
air. Over him were the stars he had /
howled at all his life and about him were |
the forests, black and silent shutting |
them in like a wall. Vainly he sought /
for that one scent that was missing. and /
Thorpe heard the low note OF GRIEF in his /
shaggy throat He took the lantern and
held 1t above his head, at the same time |
loosening his hold on the leash. At that /
signal there came voice from out of the
night 1t came from behind them, and /
Kazan whirled so suddenly that the
loosely held chain slipped from the mans
hand He saw the glow Of other lanterns
And then, once more. the voice
s.Kaa -aa-zan"
lie was on like bolt. Thorpe laughed
10 himself as he followed
"The old plrateP he chuekled
When he came to the Iantefn-lghted
spaee back Of the eaboose Thorpe found
Kazan erouching down at a goman's
feet. II was Thorpe's wife. She smiled
trlnmphantly II HIN IS he came up out
q lhe gloom