Gilpin observer., 1918-02-14


happier than Kazan in all his strength.
From now on, during the days that
followed, it was a last great fight be-
tween blind and faithful Gray Wolf
and the woman. II Joan had known Of
what lay In the thicket, II she could
once have seen the poor creature to
whom Kazan was now all life-the sun,
the stars, the moon, and food-she
would have helped Gray Wolf. But as
1t was she tried to lure Kazan more
and more to the cabin, and slowly she
won.
At last the great day came, eight
days after the fight on the Sun Rock.
Kazan had taken Gray Wolf to a wood
ed point on the river two days before,
and there he had left her the preceding
night when he went to the cabin. This
time a stout babiche thong was tied
to the collar round his neck, and he
was fastened to q staple In the log
wall. Joan and her husband were up
before 1t was light next day. The sun
was just rising when they all went out,
the man carrying the baby, and Joan
leading him. Joan turned and locked
the cabin door, and Kazan heard a sob
in her throat as they followed the man
down to the river. The big canoe was
packed and waiting. Joan got in first,
with the baby. Then, still holding the
babiche thong, she drew Knzan up
close to her, so that he lay with his
weight against her.
The sun fell warmly on Kazan's
back as they showed of, and he closed
his eyes, and rested his head on Joan's
lap. Her hand fell softly on his shoul-
der. He heard again that sound which
the man could not hear, the broken sob
in her throat, as the canoe moved slow
ly down to the wooded point.
Joan waved her hand back at the
cabin. just disappearing behind the
trees.
"Good-by" she criedly sadly. "Good-
by" And then she buried her face
close down to Kazan and the baby, and
sobbed.
The man stopped padding.
you're not sorry-Joan?" he asked.
They were drifting past the point
now, and the scent of Gray Wolf came
TO Kazan's nostrils. rousing him, and
bringing low whine from his throat.
you're not sorry-we're goingY'
Joan shook her head.
NO" she replied. "Only Tve-al-
ways lived herein the forests-and
they're-homew
The point with its white finger of
sand, was behind them now. And Ka-
Fan was standing rigid, facing 1t. The
man called to him, and Joan lifted her
head. She, too, saw the point, and
suddenly the babiche leash slipped
from her fingers, and strange light
leaped into her blue eyes as she saw
what stood at the end Of that white tip
Of sand. 1t was Gray Wolf. Her blind
eyes were turned toward Kazan. At
last Gray Wolf, the faithful. under
stood. Scent told her what her eyes
could not see. Kazan and the man-smell
were together. And they were going
going-going-
Look !" whispered Joan.
The man turned. Gray VOLTS fore
feet were in the water. And now. as
the canoe drifted farther and farther
away. she settled back on her launches,
raised her head to the sun which she
could not see and gave her last long
wailing cry for Kazan.
The canoe lurched. A tawny body
shot through the air-and Kazan was
gone.
The man reached forward for his
rifle. Joan's hand stopped him. Her
face was white.
"Let him go back to herl Let him
go-let him gol" she cried. ut Is his
place-with her."
And Kazan reaching the shore, shook
the water from his shaggy hair, and
looked for the last time toward the
woman. The canoe was drifting slow.
ly around the first bend. A moment
more and 1t had disappeared. Gray
Wolf had won.