The Jasper news., 1921-05-19
BY EDISON MARSHALL
Copyright. lsas. ss,1a.tls. brown 4 O

Sopy1knI noBS ~ tdAtue. Brown = CO
that threatened her. He didn't know
when the horse would fall with him
and precipitate Inn down a precIpice,
and he was perfectly aware that to
crash into a lowShanging limb Of one
OF the great trees beside the trail
would probably prush his skull. But
ne took the chance. And before the
ride was done he found himself plead
Ing with the horse. even as he lashed
her sides with hts whip.
The lesser fotest creatures sprang
from bis trallsgand once the mare
leaped high to miss a dark shadow
that crossed in 'front.'. AS she cnught
her stride, Dan heard squeaI and a
rattle Of quilts that identified the crea-
ture as porcupIhe.
BY now lie had passed the flrst Of
the worst grader coming out upon a
long. easy slope Of open forest. Again
he urged his horse, leaving to her
keen senses alone the chosing Of the
path between the great tree trunks.
Then he heard Snowbird fire for the
fourth time: and he knew that he had
almost overtaken her. The report
seemed to Enssh the air. And he
iashed his horse into the fastest run
she knew--a Wild, sobbing figure In
the darkness.
"She's only got one shot more," he
said. He knew how many bullets her
pistol carried end the danger--what-
ever II was-must be Just at hand. Un-
derbrush cracked beneath him. And
then the horse drew up with a Jerk
that almost hurled him from the sad
die. E
He lashed ut her in vain. She was
not afraid in the darkness and the
rocks OF the trail. but some Terror in
the woods In front had in an instant
broken his contrel over her. She
reared. snorting: then danced in an
impotent circle. Meanwhile, precious
seconds were fleeing.
| He understood now. The horss
stood still, shIvering beneath him, but
would not ADVANCE a step. The sIienc,
deepened. somewhere in the dirk
ness before him a great cougar wal
waiting by the trail, and Snowblrd
hoping for the moment that II hat
! given mp the chase. was hasteninj
through the shadows squarely into III
ambush.
Whjsperfoot crouched lower: ant
again his long serpent OF tail begar
the little verticnf motion that always
precedes his Ienp. He had not forgot
ten the wild rapture OF that momen
he had inadvertently sprung on land
HIldreth--or how, after his terror hat
died. he had come creeping back. H'
hunted his own way, waiting on thI
trail: and his madness was at tt
height. He was not Just Whisperfoo
the coward, that runs at the shadow
Of tall form In the thIckets. TIL,
consummation was complete, and tha
single experience OF a month befor,
had made OF him a hunter Of men
His muscles set for the leap.
So intent was he that his keeI
senses didn't detect the fact tina
there was curious echo to the girl'
footsteps. Dan Failing had sllppe,
down from his terrified horse and wa
running up the trail behind her, pray
Ing that he could be In time.
Snowbird heard the pat. pat OF hi
feet; but at first she did not dare I
hope that aid had come to her. Sh
had thought of. Dan as on the faI
away marshes; and her father. th
only other living occupant OF this par
OF the Divide. might even now be ~
ing dead in his house. In her terror
she had lost all power Of interprets
tion OF events. The sound might b
the cougars mate, or even the vol
/ pack. Jealous of his game. Sobbini
she hurried on into Whisperfoots an
bush.
Then she heard voice, and II seen
ed TO be calling TO her. "Snowbird-