Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-03-08

6apIcne Snon0.
Trigger. Every bone in his body gave
him pain. His jaws were sore and
bleeding. His upper lip was smashed
where the club had fallen. One eye
was almost closed. Several times
Sandy came near, much pleased at
what he regarded as the good results
the club. The third time he prodded
kazan with it, and the dog snarled and
snapped savagely at the end of 1t.
That was what Sandy wanted-it was
an old trick of the dog-slaver. Instant
ly he was using the club again, until
with whining cry Kazan skunk under
the protection of the snag to which he
was fastened. He could scarcely drag
himself. His right fOrepaw was
smashed. His headquarters sank I'M
der him. For time after this second
beating he could not have escaped had
he been free.
Sandy was in unusually good humor.
I'll take the devil out of you all
right" he told Kazan for the twentieth
time. '"There's nothin' like beatin's to
make dogs an wimmin live up to the
mark. A month from now you'll be
worth two hundred dollars or I'll skin
you aliver'
Three or four times before dusk
Sandy worked to rouse kazans ami
mostly. But there was no longer any
desire left in Kazan to fight. His two
terrific beatings, and the crushing blow
of the bullet against his skull, had
made him sick. He lay with his head
between his forepaws, his eyes closed,
and did not see McTrigger. He paid
no attention to the meat that was
thrown under his nose. He did not
know when the last of the sun sank
behind the western forests or when
the darkness came. But mt last some
thing reused him from his stupor. To
his dazed and sickened brain it came
like call from out of the far past, and
he raised his head and listened. Out
on the sand McTrigger had built fire,
and the man stood in the red glow of
it now, facing the dark shadows be-
yond the shoreline. He, too, was lis
tening. What had reused Kazan came
again now-the lost mourning cry of
Gray Wolf far out on the plain.
With whine Kazan was on his feet,
Juggling at the babiche. Sandy snatched
up his club, and leaped toward him.
'Down, you brute" he commanded.
In the freight the club rose and fell
ialn IL
Trigger returned to the fire he was
breathing hard again. He tossed his
club beside the blankets he had spread
out for bed. 1t was different look
ing club now. 1t was covered with
blood and hair.
"Guess that'll take the spirit out of
him." he ehuckled. 9TH do that-or
kill i'm p
Several times that night Kazan heard
Gray VOLTS call. He whined softly in
response, fearing the club. He watched
the fire until the last embers of it died
out. and then cautiously dragged him
self from under the snag. Two or
three times he tried to stand on his
feet but fell back each time. His legs
were not broken. but the pain of stand
ing on them WAS eXeruciating. He was
hot and feyerish. All that night he had
craved a drink of water. When Sandy
crawled out from between his blankets
in the early down he gave him both
meat and water. kazan drank the wa
ter, but would not touch the meat
Sandy regarded the change in him with
satisfaction. BY the time the sun was
up he had finished his breakfast and
was ready to leave. He approached
kazan fearlessly now, without the club
Untying the babiche he dragged the
dog to the canoe. kazan skunk in the
sand while his captor fastened the end
of the hide rope to the stern of the
canoe. Sandy grinned. What was
about to happen would be fun for him.
In the Yukon he had learned how to
take the spirit out of dogs.
He pushed off, bow foremost. Brac-
ing himself with his paddle he then be-
gan to pull kazan toward the water. In