The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-07-19

THRUST III MS lantern. Inc llgnt naSneu
on Isobel's golden head, and McCready
stared at 1t, his eyes burning like red
Goals, until he saw that Thorpe was
awakening. Quickly he dropped the
flap and rustled 1t from the outside.
"IIo, Thorpe-Thorpe" he called
again.
This time Thorpe replied.
"HellO, McCready-is that your"
McCready drew the flap Back q lit
tie. and spoke In a low voice.
ayes. Can you come out q minute?
Something's happening out in the
woods. Don't wake up your wife !"
He drew back and waited. A minute
later Thorpe came quietly out OF the
tent. McCready pointed into the thick
spruce.
"Ill swear there's someone n0sing
around the camp" he said. I'm GER
tain that l say a man out there q few
minutes ago, when I went for a log.
It's a good night for stealing dogs.
Here-you take the lantern! II |
wasn't clean fooled, we'll find q trail
In the snow
He gave Thorpe the lantern and
picked up the heavy club. A grOwl rose
In Kazan's throat. but he chOked 1t
back. He wanted to snarl forth his
warning, to leap at the end Of his
leash, but he knew that IL he did that.
they would return and beat him. SO
he lay still, trembling and shivering.
and whining softly. He watched them
until they disappeared-and then walt
ed-listened. At last he heard the
crunch of snow. He was not surprised
to see McCready come back alone. He
had expected him to return alone. For
he knew what Il club meant!
McCready's face was terrible now. 1t
was like Il beasts. He was hatless.
KaZan skunk deeper In his shadow at
the low horrible laugh that fell from
his lips-for the man still held the
club. In Il moment he dropped that,
and approached the tent. He drew back
the flap and peered In. Thorpe's wife
was sleeping, and rs quietly as a cat
he entered and hung the lantern on a
nail in the tent-pole. His movement
did not awaken her, and for a few mo-
ments he stood there, misunderstanding.
Kazan watched McCready as he en-
tered, and suddenly the dog was on his
feet, his back tense and bristling, his
limbs rigid. He saw McCready's huge
shadow on the canvas, and Il moment
later there came n strange piercing cry.
In the wild terror Of that cry he recog-
nized her yolce-and he leaped toward
the tent. The leash stopped him,
choking the snarl In his throat. He saw
the shadows struggling now, and there
came cry after cry. She was calling to
his master, and with his masters name
she was calling him!
"Kazan-kaZan-'
He leaped again, and was thrown up
on his back. A second and a third
time he sprnng the length of the leash
into the night, and the babiche cord
about his neck cut into his flesh like
Il knife. He stopped for an instant.
gasping for breath. The shadows were
still fighting. Now they were upright I,
Now they were crumpIing down. With
Il fierce snarl he flung his whole weight
once more ut the end of the chain.
There was Il snap, as the thong about
his neck gave way.
In half Il dozen bounds kazan made
the tent and rushed under the flap.
With q snarl he was ut McCready's
throat. The first snap of his powerful
Jaws was death, but he did not know
that. He knew only that his mistress
was there. and that he was fighting for
her. There came one choking gasping
cry that ended with n terrible sob it
was McCready. The man sank from
his knees upon his hack. and Kazan
thrust his fangs deeper into his
enemy's throat he felt the warm blood.
The dogs mistress was calling to
him now. She was pulling ut his shaggy
neck. But he would not loose his hold
not for a long time. When he did,
his mistress looked down once upon
the man and covered her face with her
hands. Then she sank down upon the
blankets. She was very still. Her face
and hands were cold. and kazan muz-
Zled them tenderly. Her eyes were
closed. He snuggled up close against
her, with his ready jaws turned toward
the dead man. Why was she so still.
he wondered?
A long time passed, and then she
moved. Her eyes opened. Her hand
touched him.
Then he heard a step outside.
1t vas his master, and with that old
thrill of fear-fear of the club-he
g swiftly to the door. Yes, there
was his master In the firelight-and in
his hand he held the club. He was
coming slowly. almost falling at each
step. and his face was red with blood.
But he had the club. He would beat
him again-beat him terribly for hurt
ing McCready so Kazan slipped quiet
ly under the tent-flap and stole off into
the shadows. From out the gloom of
the thick spruce he looked back. and
a low whine of love and grief rose and
died softly in his throat. They would
haot him oly-o NC pnvv--oftar that I've.