Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-10-30
CHAPTER !.
The Miracle.


Kazan lay mute and motiOnless, his |
gray nose between his forepaws, his
eyes hall closeu. Yet every drop of
the wild blood il his splendid body
was racing in ferment of excitement,
every nerve and fiber of his wonder
full muscles was tense as steel wire.
Cuarter-strain wolf, three-quarters
"husky' he had lived the four years
CT his life in the wilderness. He had
fell the pangs of starvation. He knew
what IL meant to freeze. He had
listened to the wailing winds of the
long Arctic night over the barrens. His
throat and sides were Scared by bat
tie, and his eyes We're red with the
blister of the SHOWS. He was called
Kazan, the Wild Dog, because he was
a giant among his kind and as fear
less, even, as the men who drove him
through the perils of frozen world.
He had never known fear-until
now. He had never felt in him before
the desire to run-not even on that
terrible day in the forest when he had
fought and killed the big gray lynx.
1t was his first glimpse of civilization.
He wished that his master would come
back into the strange room where he
had left him. 1t was a room filled with
hideous things. There were great hui
man faces on the wall, but they did
not move or speak, but stared at him
in way he had never seen people
look before.
Suddenly Kazan lifted his ears a
little. He heard steps, then low voices.
One of them was his masters voice.
But the other-it sent Il little tremor
through hint Once. so long ago that
it must have been in his puppyhood
days, he seemed to have had a dream
of n laugh that was like the girls
laugh-a laugh that was all at once
filled with a wonderful happiness, the
thrill of wonderful love, and a
sweetness that made Kazan lift his
head as they came in. He looked
straight at them, his red eyes gleam-
ing. At once he knew that she must
be dear to his master, for his masters
arm was about her. In the glow of
the light he saw that her hair was
very bright, and that there was the
color of the crimson bakneesh vine In
her face and the blue Of the bak-
neesh flower in her shining eyes. Sud
denly she saw him, and with little
cry darted toward him.
"Stopl" shouted the man. "He's
dangerous Kazan-"
She was on her knees beside him, all
fluffy and sweet and beautiful, her
eyes shining wonderfully. He saw the
man running forward, pale as death
Then her hand fell upon his head, and
the touch sent a thrill through him
that quivered in every nerve of his
body. With both hands she turned VI
his head. Her face was very close
and he heard her say. almost sob
bingly:
"And you are Kazan-dear old Ka
ian, my Kazan. my hero dog-whC
brought him home to me when all thu
others had died. My Kazan-m!
herOr
And then, miracle Of miracles, he
face was crushed down against him
and he felt her sweet, warm touch.
In those moments Kazan did no
move. He scarcely breathed. 1t seemed
long time before the girl lifted he
face from him And when she did
there were tears in her blue eyes, ant
the man was standing above them, hi
hands gripped tight, his jaws set.
81 never knew him to let anyon
touch him-with their naked hand" d
said in a tense, wondering voice
"Move back quickly. Isobel. Goo
heaven--look at that"
Kazan whined softly, his bloodshc
eyes on the girls face. He wanted t
feel her hand again; he wanted I
touch her face. Would they beat hir
with a club, he wondered. If he dared