American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-05-06

Ineffective sun shining on the snow.
These were the best days of all. Every
afternoon Dan and Snowbird would
GO out on their skis or on snowshoes,
unarmed except for the pistol that
Snowbird carried in the deep pocket
of her mackinaw. "But why not?" Dan
replied to Lennox's objection. She
could kill five wolves with five shots,
or pretty near 1t, and you know well
enough that that would hold ZEN till
we got home. They'd stop to eat the
FIVE. / have hard enough time keep
ing up with her as 1t is, without carry
ing a rife" And Lannox 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
had 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 ir
the silences, and they did not dream
but that they had the wilderness all t
themselves. The fact that one nigh
Lennox's keen eyes had seen wha'
looked like the glow of a camp fire
in the distance didn't affect this belle
of theirs at all. 1t was evidently jus
the phosphorus glowing in n rotten lol
from which the winds had blown TIL
snow.
Once or twice they caught glimpse
of wild life: once a grouse hat ha,
huried I'm eho eno- a--h@a e-~-a thai
nath and blew the snow-dust from II
wings; and once or twice they say
snowshoe rabbits bounding away o
Aat feet over the drifts. But just on
day they caught sight of a wolf. The
were on snowshoes on a particular
nSlS oH
brilliant afternoon late In January.
He was a lone male, evidently
straggIer from the pack. and he ieap'
from the top of a tall thicket that nj
remained above the snow. The nj
and the girl had entirely different
acfions. Dams first impression W
amazement at the animars conditlo
II seemed to he in the last stages
starvation: u~nbelievably gaunt, WI
ribNbones showing plainly even throu
the furry hide. Ordinarily the heav
furred animals do not show signs
famine; but ever an inexperienced {
could not make a mistake In this ca
Tho ewes were red. and they carr
nan hack to his first adventure In
OREGON forest-the day he had S
the mad coyote. Snowbird thought
the beast only as an enemy. The VOL
killed her fathers stock; they "
hr,gands of the worst order; and
shared the hatred of them that
common trait of all primitive peoI
Her hand whipped back, seized her
tol. and she fred twice at the he'
figure.
The second shot was a hit: bot
them saw the wolf go to its side,
spring up and race ON. shouting,
Of them sped after him.
In a few moments he was on
sight among the distant trees, but
found the blood-trail and musheo
the ridge. They expected al any
ment to find him lying dead; but
track led them on clear down the
CANYON. And now they cared M
oil whether they found him: 1t
simply a tramp in the out-of-d'
and both of them we're young VII
- blood in their veins.
But all at once Dan stopped
tracks. The girl sped on for six
before she missed the sound o
snowshoes; then she turned TO
him standing, wholly motionless'
eyes fixed upon her.
II startled her, and she didn't
wby A companion abruptly frs
In his path, his muscles inert az
ewes filling with speculation is a
startling. When this occurs II
simply that a thought so CONF
and ~engrossing that ever the
unconscious physical functions
as walking, cannot continue has
into his mind. And II is part
old creed of self-preservation to
greatly TO be left out on any
thought as this. II danger is p
the sooner It is identified the DC
what is TT" she demanded.
He turned to her curiousiy
How many shells have you !
pistolT"
She took one breath n an
him. 1T holds Ave, and shof
haven't any others"
3, "And / doft suppose II e
Cured to you to carry extra
your pocketr
Father is always telling me
several times ! have, But y