The state herald., 1921-01-21


of theirs Mt all. Il twns evidently just
the phosphorus glowing In rotten log
from which the winds had blown the
snow.
Once or twice they caught gllmpses
Of wild life: once 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
snowshoe rabbits bounding away on
> Nat feet over the drifts. But just one
dny they caught sight of n wolf. They
We're on snowshoes on particularly
, brilliant afternoon late In January.
He was lone male. evidently n
tstraggler from the pack, and he leaped
from the top of tall thlcket that had
remained above the snow. The man
and the girl had entirely different re.
actions. Dams first impression was
amazement at the animals condition.
1t seemed to be In the inst stages Of
starvation: unbelievably gaunt, with
rib bones showing plainly even through
the furry hide. Ordinarily the heavily
furred animals do not show signs Of
famine; but even an inexperienced eye
could not make n mistake in this case.
The eyes were red. and they carried
Dan back to his first adventure In the
Oregon forest-the day he had shot
the mad coyote. Snowblrd 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 n
common trait of all primitive peoples,
Her hand whipped back. seized her pis.
tol. and she fired twice at the fleeing
figure
The second shot was hit: both of
spring up and race on. Shouting, both
of them sped after him.
In n few moments he was out of
sight among the distant trees. hut they
found the .hlood-trail and mushed over
the ridge. They expected at any mo
ment 10 find him lying dead; hni the
track led them on clear down the next
canyon. And now they cared not at
all whether they found him: II was
simply tramp In the out-of-doors:
and both of them were young with red
blood in their veins
Sut all nj once Dan stopped in his
tracks. The girl sped on for six PAGES
before She missed the sound OF his
snowshoes; then she turned 10 find
him standing wholly motlonless. with
eyes fixed upon her.
IL startled her and she didn't know
why. 4 companion abruptly freezing
in his path. his muscles inert. and his
eyes filling with speculation, Is always
startling. When this occurs II means
simply that thought so compelling
and engrossing that even the half
unconscious physical functions. such
as walking. cannot continue, has come
into, his mind. And II Is part Of the
old creed of self-preservatlon TO dislike
greatly to be left out on any such
thought us this. II danger Is present.
the sooner |. is Identified the better.
what is ~" she demanded.
He turned to her curiousiy intent.
How many shells have you In that
plstol?"
She took one breath and answered
MIN. ut holds I've. and shot twice.
I haven't ans others"
"And ! don't suppose II ever oc-
Cured to you to carry extra ones In
your pocketf"
Father Is always telling me to-and
several times have. But I'd shoot
them away at target practice and for.
get to take any more. There was never
any danger-except that night with a
cougar. did intend to-but what does
II matter nowf"
We're couple Of wise ones, going
after that wolf with only three shots
to our name. OF course by himself
he's harmless-but he's likely enough
to lead US straight toward the pack
And Snowbird-I didn't like his looks.
He's too gaunt and he's too hungry
and ! haven't bit Of doubt he waited
In that brush for us TO come. intend.
Ing TO attack us-nnd lost his nerve
the last thing. Tint shows he's des.
pernte. l don't like him. and I wouldn't
like his pack. And whole pack might
not lose Its nerve"
Then you think we'd better turn
bnckf"
"Ycs. ! do, and not come ont any
more without n whole pocket OF shells.
I'm going TO carry rifle. too, Just ms
Lcnnox has always. He's got only n
ilesh-wound. You saw what you did
with two cartrldgcs-got In one flesh.
wound. Three Of 'em against pack
wouldn't he great deal OF aid. ]
don't mean To sny you can't shoot, hut
n jumping, lively wolf Is worse than
n bird In the air. We've gone over
three miles; and he'd lend us ten miles
farthcr-even II he didn't 20 TO the
pnck. Let's 30 back"
"1f you say so. But don't think
there's the least bit Of danger. We
can always climb tree
"And have 'cm make a beautiful
circle under Il They've got more pa.
tience than we hnyc-nnd we'd hive