Gilpin observer., 1918-03-28

night he had watched the stars, and
the moon. and had listened for Gray
VOLTS call, while the big Dane lay
sleeping.
| Tonight 1t was colder than usual,
and the keen tang Of the wind that
came fresh from the west stirred him
strangely. 1t set his blood afire with
what the Indians call the Frost Hunger.
Lethargic summer was gone and the
days and nights of hunting were ut
hand. He wanted to leap out into free
dom and run until he was exhausted,
with Gray Wolf at his side He knew
that Gray Wolf was off there-where
the stars hung low in the clear sky,
and that she was waiting. He strain
ed at the end of his chain, and whined.
All that night he was restless-more
restless than he had been Mt any time
before. Once, in the far distance, he
heard cry that he thought was the
cry Of Gray Wolf, and his answer
reused McGill from deep Sleep 1t
was dawn, and the little professor
dressed himself and came out of the
cabin. With satisfaction he noted the
exhilarating snap in the air. He wet
his fingers and held them above his
head, chuckling when he found the
wind had swung into the north. He
went to Kazan, and talked to him.
Among other things he said. "This'n
put the black flies to sleep, Kazan. A
day or two more of 1t and we'u start"
Five days later McGill led first the
Dane, and then Kazan, to a packed
canoe. Sandy McTrigger saw them off,
and Kazan watched for a chance to
leap at him. Sandy kept his distance,
and McGill watched the two with
thought that set the blood running
swiftly behind the mask Of his care
less smile. They had slipped a mile
downstream when he leaned over and
laid a fearless hand on Kazan's head.
Something in the touch Of that hand,
and in the professors voice, kept Ka-
zan from a desire to snap at him. He
tolerated the friendship with express
sionless eyes and a motionless body.
II was beginning to fear wouldn't
have much sleep, old boy" chuckled
McGill ambiguously, "but guess I
can take nap now and then with you
along"
He made camp that night fifteen
miles up the lake shore. The big
Dane he fastened to a sapling 20 yards
from his small silk tent, but Kazan's
chain he made fast to the butt of a
stunted birch that held down the tent
flap. Before he went into the tent for
the night McGill pulled out@his auto
matte and examined it with care.
For three days the journey con-
tinued without mishap along the
shore of Lake Athabasca. On the
fourth night McGill pitched his tent
in clump of banskian pine hundred
day the wind had come steadily from
behind them, and for at least half
Of the day the professor had been
watching Kazan closely. From the
west there had now and then come a
scent that stirred him uneasily. Since
noon he had shifted that wind. Twice
McGill had heard him growing deep
in his throat, and once, when the
scent had come stronger than usual,
he had barred his fangs, and the bris-
ties stood up along his spine.
little professor did not build a fire,
but sat looking up the shore of the
lake through his hunting glass. It
was dusk when he returned to where
he had put up his tent and chained
the dogs. For few moments he
stood unobserved, looking at the wolf
dog. Kazan was still uneasy. He lay
facing the west. McGill made note of
this, for the big Dane lay behind Ka-
zan-to the east. Under ordinary con-
ditlons Kazan would have faced him.
He was sure now that there was some-
thing In the west wind. A little shiver
ran up his back as he thought of what
1t might be.
Behind a rock he built very small
fire, and prepared supper. After this
he went into the tent, and when he
came out he carried a blanket under
his arm. He chuckled as he stood for
Il moment over Kazan.
"We're not going to sleep in there
tonight, old boy" he said. 81 don't
like what you've found in the west
wind. 1t may be a-thunderstorm !"
He laughed at his Joke, and buried
himself in n clump Of stunted BAN
skians 80 PAGES from the tent. Here
he rolled himself In his blanket, and
went to sleep.
1t was quiet starlit night. and
hours afterward Kazan dropped his
nose between his forepaws and
drowsed. 1t was the snap of twig
that reused him. The sound did not
awaken the sluggish Dane but in
stnntly KaZan's head was alert. his
keen nostrils smiling the air. What he
had smelled all day was heavy about
him now. He lay still and quivering.
Slowly. from out of the banskians be-
hind the tent. there came figure. 1t
| was NOT the LITTLE DrOfpssor II ap-