New Mexico state record., 1921-05-06

4 power seemed to be holding his wrist
and was bending lis bone as an Indian
bends Il bow. Pain dashed through him.
And then this dark-hcarted man, who
had never known the meaning of mer-
cy. opened his lips To scream that This
terrible enemy be mcrcful 10 him.
But the words wouldn't come A
ghaStly weight had come 1T his throat
and his tortured lungs Sohbcd for
breath, Then, for Il long time, there
was curious pounGng, lashing sound
in the evergreen houghs II seemed
mercilcSS and endless.
Bur Dan got up N last, in "A strange,
heavy silence, and swiftly Went to
work He took the rifle and filled it
with cartridges from CranstonS belt.
Then he put the remaining Two boxes
of shells into his shirt pocket. The
supplies of food the sack of uutri-
tiuus icrkcd vcniSon like dried bark.
, the liltle package of cheese, the boxes
of hard tack and one of the small
sacks of prepared flour he tied, with
single kettle. into his heavy hlan-
ketS aud flung them with the rifle upon
his back. Finally hr took the pair of
SNOW shoes from the floor. He worked
coldly, swiftly, all the time munching
AT "A piece of ierked NcniSon. When he
had finished he walked Ia the door of
the lcan-tO.
II seemed 10 Dan thai CranSton whiS-
pcrcd family from his unconscious
ness, aS he passed; but the victor did
not turn to look. The snow shoes
crunchrd away into the darkness. ON
lhe hill behind half dozen wolves
stragglcrS from the pack frisked and
leaped about In II curious way. 4
strange smell had reached them on the
wind. and when the loud, fearful steps
We're uut of hearing, ii might pay them
to creep down, one by one, and lnyeSti-
gate its cause.
The gray circle about the fire was
growing impatient. SnoWhird waited 10
the last instant before She admitted
this fact. But it il possible only 81
long Ia deny the truth of thing that
all the senses verify, and that moment
for her was past
she noticed that when she went to
her hands and knees lahuriouSly to
cut u piece of the drier wood from the
raiu-~oukcd. rottcd Snag that was her
principal supply of fuel, every wolf
would leap forward. only to draw back
when she stood straight again. She
worked desperately Ia keep the fire
burning bright. She dared not neglect
II for moment Except for the single
pistol ball thai She could afford to rX-
pend on the wolvcS-of the three she
had-thc fire was her last defense.
But it was losing fight. The rain
soaked wood smoked without flame.
the comparatively dry core with which
lban had started the fire had burned
down, and the green wood. hacked with
such heart-breaking difficulty from the
SnplingS that Dan had cut. needed the
most tircless attention To burn at all.
Her nervous vitality was flowing
from her in II frghtful stream. Too
long she had toiled without food In
the constant presence of danger. and
she was very near indeed to utter ex-
hauStion. But at the same time she
knew she must not faint. That was
one thing She could not do-to fall un-
conscious before the last of her three
cartridges was expended in the right
way.
Again She went forth to the Sapling.
aud this time II seemed to her that If
She simply tossed the AK through the
air. she could fell one of the gray
crowd But when she stopped to pick
II up->h didn't finish the thought
She turned to coax the fire. And then
She leaned sobbing over the sled.
WHATS the uSef" she cried. "IIe
won't come back What's the use of
fighting any more?"
There's always use Of fighting" her
father todd her. lie seemed TO speak
with difficulty. and his face looked
strange and white. The cold and the
exposure were having their effect on
his weakened system. and unconscious !
ness was near shadow indeed. But. /
dearrst-if I could only make you do J
what I want you to"
"NhatF"
YOU'RE able to climb tree. and If |
you'd take these coats. you wouldn't |
freeze hy morning II you'd only have /
the Strength"
And see you torn to pieces ="
I'm old dear-and very tired-and |
Id crawl away into the shadows. where |
YOU couldn't see. There's no use mine |
ing words. Snowbird. You're brave |
have been since a little /
thing. as God is my Judge-and you /
know we must face the truth. Better 1
one Of Us die than both. And prom |
ise-I'll never feel their fangs And ] |
won't take your pistol with me either"
Her thought flashed to the clasp /
hunting knife that ne carried in his
pocket. But her eyes lighted. and she
bent and kissed him. And the wolves
Ieaped forward even at this.
"We1l stay II out" she told him.
We'll fight il TO the last-juSt as Dan
would want us to do. BeSides-it
would only mean the same fate for
me. in a little while. ! couldn't cling
up there forever-and Dan won't come
back"
.
She was wholly enable to gain on