University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-08-17

/ so white and thick that they coul(
not see a dozen leaps ahead of then
in the open. 1t was quite warm, an(
so still that the whole world seemed
| filled with only the fiutter anC
whisper of the snowflakes. Through
this day Kazan and Gray Wolf trav.
eled side by side. Time and again he
turned his head back to the ridge over
which he had come. and Gray Vol
could not understand the strange note
that trembled in his throat.
In the afternoon they returned to
what was left of the caribou doe on
the lake. In the edge of the forest
Gray Wolf hung back. She did not
yet know the meaning of poison
baits, deadfalls and traps, but the in
stinct of numberless generations was
in her veins, and 1t told her there was
danger in visiting a second time a
thing that had grown cold in death.
Kazan had seen masters work about
carcasses that the wolves had left. He
had seen them conceal traps cleverly,
and roll little capsules of strychnine
in the fat of the entrails, and once he
had put foreleg in a trap, and had
experienced its sting and pain and
deadly grip. But he did not have
Gray VOLTS fear He urged her to
accompany him to the white hum
mocks on the ice, and at last she went
with him and sank back restlessly on
her launches. while he dug out the
bones and pieces of flesh that the
snow had kept from freezing. But
she would not eat. and at last Kazan
went and sat on his launches at her
side, and with her looked at what he
had dug out from under the snow.
He shifted the air. He could not
smell danger. but Gray Wolf told him
that it might be there.
She told him many other things in
the days and nights that followed. The
third night Kazan himself gathered
the hunt-pack and led in the chase.
Three times that month, before the
moon left the skies, he led the chase.
and each time there was a kill. But
as the SHOWS began to grow softer un-
der his feet he found a greater and
greater companionship in Gray Wolf,
and they hunted alone, living on the
big white rabbits In all the world
he had loved but two things, the girl
with the shining hair and the hands
that caressed him-and Gray Wolf
He did not leave the big plain, and
often he took his mate to the top
Of the ridge, and he would try to tell
her what he had left back there.
With the dark nights the call of the
became SO strong upon him |
that he was filled with a longing to |
go back, and take Gray Wolf with him. |
Something happened very soon af-
ter that. They were crossing the open
plain one day when up on the face of |
The ridge Kazan saw something that |
made his heart stand still. A man,
with dog-sledge and team, was COM
ng down into their world. The wind
lad not warned them, and suddenly
hazan saw something glisten In the
mans hands. He knew what it was.
It was the thing that spat fire and
and killed.
He gave his warning to Gray Wolf,
md they were off like the wind, side
~ side. And then came the sound
md Kazan's hatred of men burst
orth In a snarl as he leaped. There
vas queer humming over their
leads. The sound behind came again,
nd this time Gray Wolf gave yelp
# pain, and rolled over and over in
he snow. She was on her feet again
an instant, and Kazan dropped
ehind her, and ran there until they
cached the shelter of the timber.
Tray Wolf lay down, and began licking L
ne wound in her shoulder. Kazan
aced the ridge. The man was taking II
p their trail. He stopped where
ray Wolf had fallen, and examined
he snow. Then he came on.
kazan urged Gray Wolf to her feet,
nd they made for the thick swamp
lose to the lake. All that day they
ept in the face of the wind, and when
ray Wolf lay down Kazan stole back
yer their trail, watching and shifting
ne air.
For days after that Gray Wolf ran
ime, and when once they came upon
le remains of an old camp, Kazan's
'eth were barred in snarling hatred
the man-scent that had been left
ehind. Growing In him there was a
esire for vengeance-vengeanc for
Is own hurts, and for Gray VOLTS
e tried to nose out the man-trail un-
er the cover of fresh snow. and Gray
'Olf circled around him anviouclv II