Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-18

creek was deeper than it had ever
been. One Of their old fording places
was completely submerged, and at
last Kazan plunged in and swan
across, leaving Gray Wolf to wait for
him on the windfall side of the
stream.
Alone he made his way quickly in
the direction of the dam, travelling
two hundred yards back from the
creek. Twenty yards below the dam
a dense thicket of alder and willow
grew close to the creek and Kazan
took advantage of this. He approach
ed within leap or two Of the dam
without being seen and crouched close
to the ground, ready to spring forth
when the opportunity came. Most OF
the beavers were now working in the
water. The four or five still on shore
were close to the water and some dis
lance upstream. After wait OF sew.
eral minutes Kazan was almost on
the point of stalking everything on
wild rush upon his enemies when
movement on the dam attracted his
attention Halfway out two or three
beavers were at work strengthening
the central, structure with cement.
Swift as a flash Kazan darted from
his cover to the shelter behind the
dam. Here the water was very shall
low. the main portion of the stream
finding passage close to the oppo-
site shore. Nowhere did it reach to
his belly as he waded out. He was
completely hidden from the beavers,
and the wind was in his favor. The
noise of running water drowned what
little sound he made. Soon he heard
the beaver workmen over him. The
branches of the fallen birch gave him
a footing, and he clambered up.
A moment later his head and shout
ders appeared above the top of the
dam. Scarce an arms length away
Broken Tooth was forcing into place
a. three-foot length of poplar as big
around as a mans arm. He was SO
busy that he did not hear or see ka-
IAN. 50 Another beaver gave the warn
ing as he plunged into the pond.
Broken Tooth looked up, and his eyes
met Kazan's barred fangs. There was
no time to turn. He threw himself
back. but it was moment too late.
Kazan was upon him. His long fangs
sank deep into Broken Tooth's neck.
But the old beaver had thrown himself
enough back to make Kazan lose his
footing. At the same moment MS
chisel like teeth got firm hold OF the
loose skin at Kazan's throat. Thus
clinched, with Kazan's long teeth bur
led almost to the beavers jugular, they
plunged down into the deep water OF
the pond
1Sch 81 n01ln0S
The instant he struck the water ne
was in his element, and holding tena-
ciously to the grip he had obtained on
Kazan's neck he sank like chunk or
iron. Kazan was pulled completely un-
der. The water rushed into his mouth,
his ears, eyes and nose. He was
blinded, and his senses were roaring
tumult. But instead of struggling 10
free himself he held his breath and
buried his teeth deeper. They touched
the soft bottom and for moment
f1oundered in the mud. Then Kazan
loosened his hold. He was fighting
for his life now - and not for Broken
Tooth's. With all of the strength OF
his powerful limbs he struggled to
break loose - to rise to the surface,
to fresh air, to life. He clamped his
laws shut. knowing that to breathe
was to die On land he could have
freed himself from Broken Tooth's
hold without an effort. But under the
water the old beavers grip was more
deadly than would have been the fangs
of a lynx ashore There was a sudden
swirl of water as a second beaver
circled close about the struggling pair.
Had he closed in with Broken Tooth.
Kazan's struggles would quickly have
ceased
But nature had not foreseen the day
when Broken Tooth would be lighting
with fang. The old patriarch had no
particular reason now for holding IA
IAN down. He was not vengeful. he
did not thirst for blood or death. Find
ing that he was free, and that THIS
strange enemy that had twice leaped
upon him could do him no harm ne
loosed his hold. 1t was not moment
TOO soon for Kazan He was struggling
weakly when he rose to the surface OF
the water. Three quarters drowned,
he succeeded in raising his forepaws
over a slender branch that projected
from the dam. This gave him time to
fill his mugs with air, and to cough
forth the water that had almost ended
his existence. For ten minutes he
chung to the branch before he dared
attemDt the short swim ashore When
no reached the bank he dragged him.
self ND weakly. All the strength was
gone from his body. His limbs shook.
His Jaws hung loose. He was beaten