Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-08-13
CHAPTER Ill-Continued.

web OF HIS SHOW SHOES 10 SuFeQS. Be
cause he shat out all thought of II. he
bad no feeling of fatigue. The fight
uith Cranst0n had been a frightful
strain on muscle and nerve; but he
scarcely remembered 1t now. His
whole purpose was to return to Snow
Ord before the wolves lost the last Of
their cowardice.
The jerked venison that he had
muuched had brought him back much
oG his strength. He was wholly uncon-
rcious of his heavy pack. Never did
he glide so swiftly, so softly, with
"eh unerring step; and it was moth
lng more or less than perfect express
sion of the iron-clad control that his
s,cel nerves had over his muscles.
Then, through the silence, he heard
the shout of the pack as the wolf had
leaped at SnoWbird. He knew what it
meant The wolves were attacking
thrn, ana a great flood of black, hating
bitterness poured over him at the
thought he had been TOO late. 1t had
all been in vain, and before the thought
could fully go home he heard the dim,
laroG crack Of a pistol.
Was that the first of the three shots.
the one she might expend on the
wolves, or had the first two already
been spent and was she taking the last
gateway of escape? Perhaps even now
Lennox was lying still on the sled, and
she was standing before the ruin of
aer ire praying that her soul might
nave wings. He shouted with all the
power of his lungs across the snow.
But SnOwbird only heard the soft
glide of the wolves In the snow. The
wind was blowing toward Dan; and
While he had heard the loud chorus of
the pack. one of the most far-carrying
cries, and the penetrating crack of
pistol, she couldn't hear his answering
shout. In fact, the wilderness seemed
preternaturally still. All was breath
less, heavy with suspense, and she
stood, just as Dan had thought, be-
tween the ruin of her fire and the sled
and she looked with straight eyes to
The oncoming wolves.
Hurry, Snowbird," Lennox was
whispering. Give me the pistol-for
that last work. We have only mo-
ment more"
lie looked very calm and brave, half
raised as he was on the sled. and per-
h4ps a half-smile fingered at his beard
ef lips. And the bravest thing of all
was that to spare her, he was willing
20 take the little weapon from her
hand to use it in its last service. She
tried to smile at him, then crept over
80 his side.
The strain was over. They knew
what they had to face. She put the
pistol in his steady hand.
His hand lowered to his side and he
cat waiting, The moments passed The
wolves seemed to be waiting, too for
me last Pickering tongue of the little
IRE to die away. The last of her fuel
was ignited and burning out; they
were crouched and ready to spring if
she should venture forth after more
1he darkness closed down deeper, and
at last only column of smoke re
manned.
IL was nothing to be afraid Of. The
great gray leader Of the pack. a wolf
mat weighed nearly 100 pounds. be-
gan slowly and deliberately to set his
muscles for the spring. 1t was the
same as when the great bull elk comes
10 nay at the base Of the cliffs: usual
~ some one wolf often the great pack
leader wishing to remind his followers
VI hlS might, or else some full-grown
'.1e proud In his strength, win attack
N''ae Because this was the noblest
f'Ae that the Jack Had ever faced,
e .'ader chose to make the first leap
'''l>eIf. 1t was true that these two
s.aa neither such horns nor razor
--ta boots as the elk, yet they had
that chilled his heart when he
-' 20 look at them But one was
i5 almcst prone, and the fire was
BESIDES, the madness Of starva-
h.a. Intensified ten times by their ter
.a realization Of the wound OF her
' "as upon the pack as never be
The muscles punched at his
sean tanks.
'ls as Snowbird and her father
ss1ea st him in fascinated horror. the
a-. wolf suddenly smashed down in
s snow She was aware of its curl.
N inter collapse actually before the
:. o'4 y the rife shot tnat occasloned
p. @ penetrated her consciousness.
vas a perfect shot at long range:
80 -or a long instant her tortured
'7.-'.-es refused to accept the truth.
-teh The rifle spoke again. and a Sec
- " Ola large nnale that crouched
w. Tie other side of me sled-feH kick
70 he snow. The pack had 1eaped
'"s4 or the first death: but they
~ The second. And then ter
..,, me % them when the third wolf
opened It's savage lips and
r''-ed IN the DEAN agony.
q 70 this time, except for the re.
" y tas rifle. the attack had been