University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-09-09
CHAPTER XXI
Sandy's Method


collar about the dogs limp neck un-
til he came to the worn plate, on
which he could make out the family
engraved letters K-a-z-a-n. He spelled
the letters out one by one. and the
look in his face was OF one who still
disbelieved what he had seen and
heard.
"A dog" he exclaimed again. "a
dog. Sandy McTrigger an "a beau
ty,"
He rose to his feet and looked down
on his victim. A pool of blood lay
in the white sand at the end Of Ka-
Zan's nose. After a moment Sandy
bent over to see where his bullet had
struck His inspection filled him with
a new and greater interest. The
heavy ball from the muzzle-loader
had struck Kazan fairly on top of the
head 1t was glancing blow that
had not even broken the skull, and
like a flash Sandy understood the
quivering and twitching of Kazan's
shoulders and legs. He had thought
that they were the last muscular
throes of death. But Kazan was not
dying. He was only stunned, AMI
would be on his feet again in a few
minutes. Sandy was a connoisseur OF
dogs-of dogs that had worn two
thirds of his life. He could tell their
age. their value, and a part of their
history at a glance. In the snow he
could tell the trail of Mackenzie
hound from that of Malemute, ami
the track of an Eskimo dog from that
of a Yukon husky. He looked at Ka-
zan's feet. They were wolf feet, aud
he chuckled. Kazan was part wild.
He was big and powerful, and Sandy
thought of the coming winter, and of
the high prices that dogs would bring
at Red Gold City He went to the ca
noe and returned with roll of stout
moose-hide babiche. Then he sat
down cross-legged in front of Kazan
and began making a muzzle. He did
this by plating babiche thongs in the
same manner that one does in making
the web of a snowshoe. In ten min
utes he had the muzzle over Kazan'E
nose and fastened securely about his
neck. To the dogs collar he then
fastened ten-foot rope of babiche.
After that he sat back and waited for
Kazan to come to life.
When Kazan first lifted his head
he could not see. There was a red fila
before his eyes. But this passed away
swiftly and he saw the man. His first
instinct was to rise to his feet. Three
times he fell back before he could
stand up Sandy was squatting six
feet from him, holding the end of the
babiche, and grinning. Kazan's fangs
cleaned back. He growled, and the
crest along his spine rose menacing-
ly. Sandy jumped to his feet
Guess l know what you're figger-
ing on" he said. "I've had your
kind before. The dam wolves have
turned you bad, an you'll need
whole lot of club before you're right
again. Now, look here
Sandy had taken the precaution of
bringing a thick club along with the
babiche. He picked it up from where
he had dropped it in the sand. Kazan's
strength had fairly returned to him
now. He was no longer dizzy. The
mist had cleared away from his eyes.
Before him he saw once more his old
enemy, man-man and the club. All
of the wild ferocity of his nature was
reused in an instant. Without reas-
oning he knew that Gray Wolf was
gone, and that this man was accounta-
BILE for her going. He knew that this
man had also brought him his own
hurt, and what he ascribed to the man
he also attributed to the club. In his !
newer understanding of things, born |
vi iSCuOh anu Nidy NOii, anu {
Club we're one and inseparable. With
snarl he leaped at Sandy The man
was not expecting a direct assault, !
and before he could raise his club or
spring aside Kazan had landed full |
on his chest. The muzzle about Ka
zan's jaws saved him. Fangs that
would have torn his throat open /
snapped harmlessly. Under the |
weight of the dogs body he fell back.
as II struck down by a catapult.
Az quick as cat he vas on his !
feet again, with the end of the bab-
iche twisted several times about his |
hand Nazan leaped again. and this /
time he was met by furious swing |
of the club. 1t smashed against his /
shoulder, and sent him down in the |
sand. Before he could recover San
dy was upon him, with all the fury |