The Bossier banner., 1921-06-23


hibit when hunting new game SO
that be didn't attempt to strike Snow
bird down at once. But as the chase
went on. his passion grew upon him.
Ever he crept nearer. And at last he |
sprang full into the thickets beside |
her.
At that instant she had shat for the |
first time Because the light had left |
his eyes before she could find aim,
both shots had been clean misses. And
terrible as the reports were, he was
too engrossed in the chase to be
frightened away by mere sound. This
was the cry the man-pack always
made-these sudden. startling sounds
in the silence. But he felt no pain.
He crouched a moment. shivering.
Then he bounded ON again.
The third shot was a miss too: in
hit. sound In the darkness Is as
: unreliable target as can possibly be
imagined. And 1t didn't frighten him
as much as the others. He waited,
crouching, and the girl started on.
/ She was making other sounds now
queer. whimpering sounds not greatly
different from the bleat that the fawn
utters when 1t dies. It was fear
sound, and If there Is one emotion
with which the wild beasts are ac-
quainted, in all It's phases. 1t Is fear.
She was afraid of him. then. and that
meant he need no longer be. in the
least afraid of her. His skin began to
twitch all over with that terrible mad
ness and passion of the flesh-hunters.
This game was like the deer, and
the thing to do was lie in wait. There
was only one trail. He wasn't afraid
Of losing her in the darkness. She
was neither fleet like the deer nor
courageous like Woof the bear. He
had only to wait and leap from the
darkness when she passed.
When Dan Failing, riding like mad
over the mountain trail. heard the
third shot from Snowbird's pistol. he
felt that one of the debts he owed had
come due at last. He seemed to know.
as the darkness pressed around him,
that he was to be tried In the fire. And
the horse staggered beneath him as
he tried to hasten.
He showed no mercy to his mount
Horse-flesh isn't made for carrying q
heavy man over such trail as this
and she was red-nostriled and lath
cred before half mile had been GOV
ered He made her leap up the rocks
and on fairly level stretches he loOset
the reins and lashed her into gallop
Only mountain horse could hav'
stood that test. He gave no though
to his own safety. His courage wal
at the test. and no risk of his owl
life must interfere with his attemp
to save Snowbird from the DANCE
that threatened her. He didn't know
{ when the horse would fall with hin
and precipitate him down a precipice
and he was perfectly aware that t
crash into low-hanging limb of on
! of the great trees beside the tral
would probably crush his skull. Blu
he took the chance And before tn
ride was done he found himself plead
ing with the horse, even as he lashe
her sides with his whip.
:. The lesser forest creatures spran
l. from his trail; and once the mar
; leaped high to miss a dark shado'
+ that crossed in front. AS she caugf
It her stride. Dan heard squeal and
ls rattle of quilts that identified the cres
st ture as a porcupine.
BY now lie had passed the first
r the worst grades. coming out upon
d long, easy slope of open forest. Agai
a he urged his horse. leaving TO M
d keen senses alone the chosing Of Il
e path between the great tree trunks.
le Then he heard Snowbird fire for 4
N fourth time: and he knew that he ha
almost overtaken her. The repo
IL seemed to smash the air. And
d, lashed his horse into the fastest n
m she knew-a wild. sobbing figure
p the darkness.
ne "She's only got one shot more.
ia said He knew how many bullets h
at pistol carried; and the danger-whs
ne ever 1t was-must be just at hand. q
IN derbrush cracked beneath him. Al
he then the horse drew up with je
Il. that almost hurled him from the 50
y, die.
nd He dashed at her In vain. She "
i'll not afraid In the darkness aud {
ne rocks of the trail. but some Terror
ne the woods in front had In an insta
ue broken his control over her. 8
he reared. snorting; then danced 10
ng impotent circle. Meanwhile, precio
seconds were fleeing.
M He understood now. The hor
ms stood still, shivering beneath him. ?
sst would not advance step. The sIlen
he deepened. Somewhere In the dal
'd- ness before him great cougar y
&C, waiting By the trail. and Snowbil
he hoping for the moment that It b
he given up the chase. was hasteni
through the shadows squarely into
tly ambush.
" WhisperfOot crouched lower: Q
ms again his long serpent OF q tail beg
.eu ~. ,gt+lo vorfjcol untfnn that alWg