Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-04-30


uharmed except for the pistol that
onowoird carried in the deep pocket
Oh her mackinaw "But why not?" Dan
replied to Lennoxs objection. "She
could XIII five wolves with five shots,
or pretty near 1t, and you know well
enough that that would hold 'em till
we got home. They'd stop to eat the
hve. | have hard enough time keep
ing up with her as 1t is, without carry
ing rifle" And Lennox was content.
Dan had told the truth when he said
that five deaths or even fewer, would
repel the attack of any wolf pack he
mad ever seen. There was just one
troubling thought. He had heard, long
ago, and he had forgotten who had
told him, that in the. most severe win
tiers the wolves gather in particularly
large packs; and a quality in the song
that they had heard at night seemed
to bear 1t out. The chorus had been
exceptionally loud and strong, and he
had been unable to pick out individual
voices.
The snow was perfect for skiing.
Previously their sport had been many
times interrupted either by the fall of
fresh snow or a thaw that had soft
ened the snow crust; but now every
afternoon was too perfect to remain
indoors. They shouted and romped in
the sllences, and they did not dream
but that they had the wilderness all to
themselves. The fact that one night
LennOx's keen eyes had seen what
looked like the glow of camp fire
in the distance didn't affect this belief
of theirs at all. 1t was evidently just
the phosphorus glowing In rotten log
from which the winds ha3 blown the
snow.
Once or twice they caught glimpses
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
fiat feet over the drifts But just one
day they caught sight of a wolf. They
were on Snowshoes on a particularly
brilliant afternoon late in January.
He was lone male, evidently a
straggler from the pack, and he leaped
from the top of a tall thicket that had
remained above the snow. The man
and the girl had entirely different re-
actions. Dams first impression was
Amusement at the animals condition.
1t seemed to be in the last 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 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. Snowbird thought Of
the beast only as an enemy. The wolves
killed her fathers stock they were
Of the worst order; and she
shared the hatred of them that is a
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
them saw the wolf go to Its side, then
spring up and race on. Shouting, both
IF them sped after him.
In few moments he was out of
sight among the distant trees, but they
sound the blood-trail and mushed over
he ridge. They expected at any mo-
nent to find him lying dead; but the
rack led them on clear down the next
,anyon. And now they cared not at
I'll whether they found him: It was
simply a tramp in the out-of-doors;
ind both Of them were young with red
flood in their veins.
But al ut once Dan stopped In his
racks. The girl sped on for six PAGES
'efore shs missed the sound of his
then she turned to find
lin standing. wholly moticnless, with
yes fixed upon her.
II startled her, and she eidn't know |
Why, A companion abruptly freezing |
n his PATH his muscles inert, and his |
yes filling with speculation, is always
tartling. When this occurs 1t means |
imply that thought so compelling
nd engr9ssing that even the bqlf-
unconscious physical functions, sech
s walking, cannot continue, has coee
nto his mind. And II is part of thu
Id creed of aelf-preservation to disllk~
realty to be left out on any sucl
bought as this. If danger is present
he sooner 1t Is identified the better. |,
What is itT' she demanded.
He turned TO her curiously intent.
How many shells have you in that
lstol?"
She took one breath and answered
i'm. 1T holds Ave. and shot twice.
haven't any others"
"And / don't suppose 1t ever oc-
utred to you to carry extra ones in
our pocket?"
Father is always telling me to-and
everal times / have. But I'd shoot
lem away at target practice and for
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