University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-09-14


to leap at him. Sandy kept his dis
tance, and McGill watched the two
with a thought that set the blood run
ming swiftly behind the mask OF his
careless smile They had Slipped "a
mile downstream when he leaned
over and laid a fearless hand on ka-
zan's head Something in the touch of
that hand. and in the professors voice.
kept KaZan from desire TO snap al
him. He tolerated the friendship
with expressionless eyes and a mo-
tionless body.
Il was beginning to fear | wouldn't
have much sleep, old boy" chuckled
McGill ambiguously, "but | guess |
can take nap now and then will you
alOng,"
He made camp that night fifteen
miles up the lake shore. The big
Dane he fastened to sapling twenty
yards from his small silk tent, but
Kazan's chain he made fast to the butt
of a stunted birch that held down the
tent-hap. Before he went into the
tent for the night McGill pulled out
his automatic and examined it with
care.
For three days the journey contin-
ued without a mishap along the shoe
of Lake Athabasca. On the fourth
night McGill pitched his tent in a
clump of banskian pine a hundred
yards from the water. All that day
the wind had come steadily from be-
hind them, and for at least half Of
the day the professor had been watch
ing KaZan closely. From the west
there had now and then come a sceI-t
that stirred him uneasily. Since noon
he had shifted that wind. Twice Nc
Gill had heard him growing deep in
his throat, and once, when the scent
had come stronger than usual, he had
barred his fangs, and the bristles
stood up along his spine. For an hour
after striking camp the little profess
sor did not build a fire, but sat look
ing up the shore of the lake through
his hunting glass. 1t was dusk when
he returned to where he had put up
his tent and chained the dogs. For ?
few moments he stood unobServed,
looking at the wolf-dog. KaZan was
still uneasy. He lay facing the west.
McGill made note of this, for the big
Dane lay behind Kazan-to the east.
Under ordinary conditions kaZan
would have faced him He was sure
now that there was something in the
west wind. A little shiver ran up his
back as he thought of what it migl t
be.
Behind a rock he built very small
fire, and prepared supper. After this
he went into the tent, and when lie
came out he carried blanket under
his arm. He chuckled as he stood |
for moment over Kazan.
Were not going to sleep in there
tonight, old boy" he said. 81 don't
like what you've found in the west /
wind 1t may be a-thunder-storm'"
He laughed, at the joke, and buried /
himself in a clump of stunted ban |
skians thirty PAGES from the tent. |
Here he rolled himself in his blanket |
and went to sleep.
1t was quiet starlit night, and |
hours afterward Kazan dropped his |
nose between his forepaws and |
irowsed. 1t was the snap of a twig I.
hat aroused him. The sound did not |
awaken the sluggish Dane but instant
y Kazan's head was alert, his keen
lostrils shifting the air What he had
;melled all day was heavy about him
now. He lay still and quivering.
Slowly, from out of the banskians be-
lind the tent, there came a figure. 1t
vas not the little professor. 1t ap-
,roached cautiously, with lowered
read and hunched shoulders, and the
Starlight revealed the murderous face
If Sandy McTrigger. Kazan crouched
ow. He laid his head fiat between his
orepaws. His long fangs cleaned.
But he made no sound that betrayed
lis concealment under a thick BAN
khan shrub. Step by step Sandy ap-
,roached, and at last he reached the
lap of the tent. He did not carry
hub or a whip in his hand now. In
he place of either of those was the
glitter of steel At the door to the
ent he paused, and peered in, his
,ack to KaZan.
Silently. swiftly-the wolf now in
very movement, Kazan came to his
eet. He forgot the chain that held
lin. Ten feet away stood the enemy
10 hated above all others no mad ever