The state herald., 1920-02-01

strange smell had reached them on the
wind, and when the loud, fearful steps
were out of hearing, It might pay them
to creep down, one by one. and investi
gate its cause.
=
The gray circle about the FIRE was
growing impatient. Snowbird waited to
the last instant before she admitted
this fact. But 1t is possible only so
long to deny the truth Of thing that
all the senses verify, and that moment
for her was past.
She noticed that when she went to
her hands and knees. laboriously to
cut piece Of the drier wood from the
raln-soaked. rotted snag that was her
principal supply of fuel, every wolf
would leap forward, only to draw back
when she stood straight again. She
worked desperately to keep the firs
burning bright. She dared not neglect
II for moment. Except for the single
pistol ball that she could afford to ex-
pend on the wOlves-of the three she
had-the FIRE was her last defense.
But 1t was losing fight. The rain.
soaked wood smoked without fame.
the comparatively dry core with which
Dan had started the fire had burned
down, and the green wood. hacked with
such heart-breaklng difficulty from the
saplings that Dan had cut, needed the
mos, tireless attention to burn at all.
Her nervous vitality was flowing
from her In frightful stream. Too
long she had tOiled without food In
the constant presence Of danger, and
she was very near indeed to utter ex-
haustion. But at the same time she
knew she must not faint. That was
one thing she could not do-to fall un-
conscious before the last of her three
cartridges was expended in the right
way.
Again she went forth to the sapling,
and this time II seemed to her that II
she simply tossed the TX through the
air, she could fell one of the gray
crowd. But when she stopped to pick
It up-she didn't finish the thought.
She turned to coax the fire. And then
she leaned sobbing over the sled.
whats the use?" she. cried. "He
won't come back What's the use of
lighting any more?"
There's always use of fighting" her
father told her. Ic seemed to speak
with difficulty. and his face looked
strange and white. The cold and the
exposure were having their effect on
his weakened system, and unconscious
ness was near shadow indeed. But
dearest--If could only make you do
what want you to-"
"Whnt?"
you're able TO climb a tree, and II
you'd take these coats. you wouldn't
freeze by morning. If you'd only have
the strength"
"And see you torn TO picces.
''1'm old. dear-and very tired-and
I'd crawl away into the shadows. where
you couldn't see. There's no use mine
Ing words, SnowbIrd. You're n brave
girl-nlways have been since little
thing. rs God Is my Judge-nnd you
know we must face The truth. Better
one Of us die than both. And prom.
ise-T'il never feel their fnngs. And ]
won't take your pistol with me either"
Her thought flashed to the clasp
hunting knife that he carried in his
pocket. But her eyes lighted. and she
bent and kissed him. And the wolves
leapcd forward even ut this.
"we'll stay II out" she told him.
well fight I, TO the lnst-Ius, as Dan
would wan, us to do. Bcsides--ii
would only mean the same fate for
me. In little while. couldn't cling
up there foreyer-and Dan won't come
back"
She was wholly unable TO gain on
the fire. Only by dint OF the most
heart-breaking toll was she able TO Sc
cure any dry fuel for II at all. Every
length OF wood she cut hnd TO he
scrnped OF bark. nnd half the time the
Gre was only sic:sly column OF white
smoke. II becnme Increasingly aim,
cult to swing the AK. The trail was
almost at It's end.
The afier-mldnlGht hours drew one
By one across the face Of the wilder
upss. and she thought that the deep
enlng cold presaged dawn. Her I'm.
gers were numb.
One more she went TO one OF the
saplings. but she stumbled and almost
went TO her fncc nj the first blow. II
was the instant that her gray watch.
crs had been waiting for The wolf
that stood nearest lenped-n gray
streak out Of the shadow-nnd every
wolf In the pack shot forward with
yell. II was n short. cxpcctnnt cry;
but It chopped OF short. For with
hnlf-sob. and seemingly without men.
tni process. she mined her pistol nnd
fired.
A fast.lcapinr wolf Ia one OF the
most difficult pistol targets that can be
imagined. II bordercd on the mlrncu.
lous that she did not miss him alto.
gcthcr. Her nerves were torn. their
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