University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-08-18

a voice new to Kazan. The dog snap.
ped again, and growled.
The man persisted, talking to him
all the time, and once his mittened
hand touched Kazan's head, and es-
capped before the jaws could reach it
Again and again the man reached out
his hand, and three times Kazan felt
the touch of it. and there was neither
threat nor hurt in it. At last Pierre
turned away and went back over the
trail.
When he was out of sight and hear
ing, Kazan whined, and the crest along
his spine fiattened. He looked wist-
fully toward the glow Of the fire. The
quarters of him that was dog wanted
to follow.
Gray Wolf came back, and stood
with stiffly planted forefeet at his
side. She had never been this near
to man before. except when the pack
had overtaken the sledge out on the
plain. She could not understand. Ev-
cry instinct that was in her warned
her that he was the most dangerous
of all things, more to be feared than
the strongest beasts, the storms, the
floods. cold and starvation. And yet
this man had not harmed her mate.
She shifted at Kazan's back and head,
where the mittened hand had touched.
Then she trotted back into the dark
ness again, for beyond the edge of the
forest she once more saw moving life.
The man was returning. and with
him was the girl. Her voice was soft
and sweet, and there was about her
the breath and sweetness of woman.
The man stood prepared, but not
threatening.
BE careful JOAN" he warned.
She dropped on her knees in the
snow. just out of reach.
Come. boy-come," she said gent
ly. She held out her hand. Kazan's
muscles twitched. He moved an inch
two inches toward her. There was
the old light in her eyes AMI face now,
the love and gentleness he mad known
once before, when another woman with
shining hair and eyes had come into
his life. Come" she whisDered as
she saw him move. and she bent lit
tie, reached little farther with her
hand. and at last touched his head.
Pierre knelt beside her. He was
proffering something, and Kazan
smelled meat. But it was the girls
hand that made him tremble and shiv
er, and when she drew back, urging
him to follow her, he dragged him
self painfully foot or two through
the snow. Not until then did the girl
see his mangled leg. In an instant she
had forgotten all caution, and was
down close at his side.
"He can't walk" she cried, sud-
den tremble in her voice. Look, mon
pere. Here is a terrible cut. We
must carry him."
Il guessed that much" replied Rad
isson. For that reason | brought the
blanket. Mon Dieu, listen to that"
From the darkness of the forest
there came low wailing cry.
Kazan lifted his head and tremb-
ling whine answered in his throat. 1t
was Gray Wolf calling to him.
It was a miracle that Pierre
should put the blanket about Kazan,
and carry him in to the camp, without
scratch or bite. 1t was this miracle
that he achieved, with Joan's arm rest
ing on Kazan's shaggy neck as she
held one end of the blanket. They laid
him down close to the fire, and after
a little it was the man again who
brought warm water and washed
away the blood from the torn leg, and
then put something on it that was soft
and warm and soothing, and finally
bound a cloth about it.
All this was strange and new to Ka-
zan. Pierre's hand, as well as the
girls stroked his head. 1t was the man
who brought him a cruel of meal and
tallow, and urged him to eat, while
loan sat with her chin in her two
hands, looking at the dog, and talking
70 him. After this, when he was quite
and no longer afraid, he
heard a strange small cry from the
furry bundle on the sledge that
brought his head up with a jerk.
Joan saw the movement. and heard
he low answering whimper in his |