Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1921-05-05

troubling thought. He had heard. long
1go. and he had forgotten who had
told him, that i'm the most severe win
tiers the wolves gather in particularly
large packs; and quality in th" song
that they had heard AT night seemed
To bear II out. The chorus had been
exceptionally loud and strong. and h"
had been unable Ia pick out individual
voices
The snow was perfect for skiing.
Previously their sport had been many
times interrupted either 10y the fall of
fresh snow or thaw that had soft
rncd the snow crust: hut now every
afternoon WAS too perfect &" remain
indoors. They shouted ana rumpcd in
the SilcnccS. and they did not dream
hut that they had the wilderness all Ia
themselves The fact that one night
LcnnoN'S keen eyes had seen what
looked like the glow of camp fire
in the distance didn't affect this belief
Of theirs nj all. II was evidently Just
the phosphorus glowing i'm rotten log
from which the winds had blown the
snow.
Once or twice they caught glimpScS
Of wild life: once n grouse that had
buried In the snow flushed from their
path and blew the Snow-duSt from its
wings; and once or twice they saw
snowShoc rabbits bounding away on
flat feet over the drifts. But just one
day they caught sight Of n wolf. They
were on SnowShopS on Il particularly
brilliant afternoon late in January.
He was n lone male, evidently a
Straggler from the pack. and he lcapcd
from the top of Il tall thicket that had
remained above the snow. The man
and the girl had entirely different re-
actions. Dams first impression was
amazcmcnt at the animals condition.
Ii seemed 10 be i'm the last stages of
starvation: unhelievahly gaunt. with
rib bones showing plainly even through
the furry hide. Ordinarily the heavily
furrcd animals do not show signs Of
famine: hut even an inexperienced eye
could not make mistake in this ease.
The eyes were red. and they carried
Dan back 10 his first adventure I'm the
Oregon fnrest-the day he had shot
the mad coyote. SnOwbird thought of
the beast only as an enemy. The wolves
killed her fathers stock; they were
brigands Of the worst order: and she
shared the hatred of them that is a
common trait Of all primitive peoples,
Her hand whipped hack, seized her piS.
tol. and she fired twice at the fleeing
figure.
The second shot was II hit: both of
them saw the wolf go to its side. then
spring up and race on. Shouting, both
of them sped after him.
In few moments he was out of
sight among the distant trees. hut they
found the hlo0d-traiI and muShed over
the ridge. They expected ut any mo
ment To find him lying dead; but the
track led them on clear down the next
canyon. And now they cared not al
all whether they found him: il was
simply n tramp i'm the out-Of-dOOrs
and both of them were young with red
blood in their veins.
But all at once Dan stopped in hi,
tracks. The girl sped on for six PAGES
before she missed the sound of his
Snowshoes; then she turned to finC
him standing, wholly mOtiOnless, will
| eyes fixed upon her.
II startled her and she didn't know
why. A companion abruptly freezin!
| in his path. his muscles inert, and hi:
| eyes filling with speculation. is Away,
| startling. When this occurs II means
| simply that thought So compcllin;
and engroSsinG that even the half
unconscious physical functions, sucl
as walking, cannot continue, has com
into his mind. And II is part of tn
old creed of self-preservation TO dlslik
greatly TO be left out on any sucl
thought as this. If danger is present
the sooner il is identified the better.
What is it?" she demanded.
He turned Ia her curiOusly intent
How many shells have you in tina
piStOl?"
She took one breath and answers
him. at holds five and | shot twice
| haven't any others"
"And | don't suppose it ever oC
Cured to you to carry extra ones 4
your pOcketT
Father is always telling me tO-an
several times | have. But I'd shoe
them away at target practice and fOl
get To take any more. There was neve
any danger-eXcept that night with
cougar. | did intend to-but what doe
il matter nOwT
We're a couple of wise ones, gOin
after that wolf with only three shot
he's haImless-but he's likely enOug
tn lead us straight toward the pacl
And Snowbird-I didn't like his look
He's too gaunt and he's too hungry
and | haven't bit of doubt he waite
in that brush for us to come. inten,
ing To attack us-and lost his merry
the last thing. That shows he's de
perate. | don't like him. and wouldn
like his pack. And whole pack migl
not lose its nerve"
"Then you think we'd better tur
back?"
Yes. I do, and not come ont an
more without whole pocket of shell
I'm going to carry a rifle. too. just {
Lennon has always. He's got only
, fleSh-wOund. You saw what you d
with two cartridges-got in one fles
wound. Three of 'em against a paC
wouldn't be great deal of aid.
/ don't mean to say You can't shoot, HI
! a jumping. lively wolf Is worse tha
; n bird in the air. We've gone Ov,
three miles; and he'd lead us ten nil
! farther--even if he didn't 20 to Il
| pack. Let's go back"
> IF you say 81. But | don't thiT
there's the least bit of danger. "
: can always climb tree"
"And have 'em make a beautif
note from Susie saying that size Ia
! gore away with Joe.