Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-02-15

The next day. and still the next, h
lid not 60 to the cabin, though ~
heard the voices of both the man and
the woman calling him. On the fifth
he went down. and Joan and the baby
were so glad that the woman Rugged
him. and the baby Kicked and laughed
and screamed at him, while the man
stood by cautiously, watching theil
demonstrations with a CLEAN Of disap.
probation in his eyes.
I'm afraid Of him." he told Joan for
the hundredth time. that's the wolf.
CLEAN in his eyes. He's of treacher-
GUS breed. Sometimes l wish we'd
never brought him home"
IF we hadn't-where would the baby
have gOne~ Joan reminded him, q
little catch In her voice.
II had almost forgotten that" said
her husband. "Kazan, you old devil, ]
guess | love you, too" He laid his
hand caressingly ON Kaxan's head.
wonder how he'll take to life down
there" he asked. HE has always
been used to the forests. TIN seem
mighty strange"
And sO-have always been used
to the forests" whispered Joan. II
guess that's why love Kazan-next to
you and the baby. Kazan-dear old
Kaxani'
This time Kazan felt and scented
more Of that mysterious change in the
cabin. Joan and her husband talked
necessarily Of their plans when they
were together; and when the man was
away Joan talked to the baby, and to
him. And each time that he came
down to the cabin during the week that
followed, he grew more and more rest
less, until at last the man noticed the
change In him.
II believe he knows" he said to Joan
one evening. II believe he knows we're
preparing to leave" Then he added !:
"The river was rising again today. It
will be another week before we can
start, perhaps longer"
That same night the moon flooded
the top Of the Sun Rock with q golden
light. and out into the glow of it came
Gray Wolf, with her three little whelps
toddling behind her. There was much
abOut these soft little balls that
tumbled about him and snuggled In
his tawny coat that reminded Kazan
OF the baby. At times they made the
same queer, soft little sounds, and they
staggered about on their four little
legs just as helplessly as baby Joan
made her way about ON two. He did
not fondle them, as Gray Wolf did,
but the touch Of them, and their baby
ish whimperings, filed him with kind
of pleasure that he had never expert
enced before
The moon was straight above them,
and the night was almost as bright as
day, when he went down again to hunt
for Gray Wolf. At the foot Of the rock
big white rabbit popped up ahead Of
him, and he gave chase. For half a
mile he pursued, until the wolf instinct
In him rose over the dog. and he gave
up the futile race. A deer he might
have Overtaken, but small game the
wolf must hunt as the fox hunts 1t,
and he began to slip through the thick
cts slowly and as quietly az a shadow.
He was mile from the Sun Rock
when two quick leaps put Gray VOLTS
supper between his jaws. He trotted
back slowly, dropping the big seven.
pound snow-shoe hare now and then to
rest.
When he came to the narrow trail
that led to the top Of the Sun Rock he
stopped. In that trail was the warm
scent of strange feet. The rabbit fell
from his jaws. Every hair In his body
was suddenly electrified into life. What
he scented wasnOt the scent Of q rab-
bit, marten or q porcupine. Fang
and claw had climbed the path ahead
OF him. And then, coming family to
him from the top Of the rock, he heard
sounds which sent him up with q ter
rible whining cry. When he reached
the summit he saw in the white moon
light a scene that stopped him for q
nngle moment. Close to the edge Of the |
sheer fall to the rocks, fifty feet below,
Gray Wolf was engaged In a death.
struggle with a huge gray lynx. She
vas down-and under, and from her
here came . sudden sharp terrible CRY
II pain.
kasan new across the rock. His at
ack was the swift silent assault Of the
wolf. combined with the greater cour.
lse. the fury and the strategy of the