University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-08-29

ler, was dropping. Flecks of bloc,
dropped from his distended nostrils
Even then, with the old bull weakened
by starvation, exhaustion and loss o
blood, a wolf-pack would have hun,
back before attacking. Where the,
would have hesitated. Kazan leapet
in with a snarling cry. For an in
stant his fangs sunk into the thicl
hide of the bulls throat Then he wa.
! flung back-twenty feet. Hunger
gnawing at his vitals robbed him ol
all caution, and he sprang to the at.
tack again-full at the bulls front
while Gray Wolf crept up unseen be-
hind, seeking in her blindness the vul-
nerable part which nature had moi
taught Kazan to find
This time KaZan was caught fairly
on the broad palmate leaf of the bulls
antler, and he was flung back again
half stunned. In that same moment
Gray VOLTS long white teeth cut like
knives through one of the bulls rope
like hamstrings. For thirty seconds
she kept the hold, while the bull
plunged wildly in his efforts to
trample her underfoot. Kazan was
quick to learn, still quicker to be
guided by Gray Wolf. and he leaped
in again, swapping for hold on the
bulging cord just above the knee He
missed. and as he lunged forward on
his shoulders Gray Wolf was flung Off
But she had accomplished her pur-
pose. Beaten in open battle with one
of his kind. and now attacked by a still
deadlier foe, the old bull began to re-
treat. AS he went, one hip sank un-
der him at every step. The tendon of
his left leg was bitten half through.
Without being able to see, Gray
Wolf seemed to realize what had hap
pened. Again she was the pack-wolf
with all the old wolf strategy Twice
flung back by the old bulls horn, ka-
zan knew better than to attack openly
again. Gray Wolf trotted after the
bull, but he remained behind for mo-
ment to lick up hungrily mouthfuls of
the blood-soaked snow Then he fol-
lowed, and ran close against Gray
VOLTS side, fifty yards behind the bull.
There was more blood in the trail
nova thin red ribbon of it. Fifteen
later the bull stopped again,
and faced about, his great head low
cred. His eyes were red There was
a droop to his neck and shoulders that
spoke no longer of the unconquerable
fighting spirit that had been a part of
him for nearly a score of years. No
longer was he lord of the wilderness
about him; no longer was there de-
lance in the poise of his splendid
head, or the flash of eager fire in his
Dloodshot eyes. His breath came with
4 gasping sound that was growing
more and more distinct. A hunter
would have known what it meant The |
of the younger bulls ant
er had gone home, and the old bulls
ungs were failing him. More than
,nce Gray Wolf had heard that sound |
n the early days of her hunting with |
he pack, and she understood. Slowly |
The began to circle about the wounded
at distance of about twen-
y yards. Kazan kept at her side.
Once-twice-twenty times they |
made that slow circle, and with each
urn they made the old bull turned,
md his breath grew heavier and his
lead dropped lower. Noon came, and
vas followed by the more intense cold
# the last half of the day. Twenty
ircles became hundred-two hun
ireland more. Under Gray VOLTS
nd Kazan's feet the snow grew hard
n the path they made. Under the old
ull's widespread hoofs the snow was
70 longer white-but red. A thOus-
nd times before this unseen tragedy
f the wilderness had been enacted.
was an epoch of that life where life
tself means the survival of the fittest,
there to live means to kill, and to die
leans to perpetuate life. At last in
hat steady and deadly circling of
ray Wolf and Kazan. there came
me when the old bull did not turn
hen second, third and fourth
me, and Gray Wolf seemed to know.
With KaZan she drew back from the 1
trail, and they flattened |
on their bellies under a
warf spruce-and waited. For many 1
linutes the bull stood motiOnless. his :
quarter sinking lower and
,wer And then with deep blood {
hoked gasp he sank down. &
For a long time KaZan and Gray s
Tolf did not move, and when at last +,
ley returned to the beaten trail the 6
nll's heavy head was resting on the
low. Again they began to circle, and 6