The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1921-05-04

OF IalI. III nHu Deen tTluilpluHl inth,
and proud with the wilderness pride.
OF course II had been sad then, too,
but II was more sad now. And II was
stranger. too, and crept farther into
the souls of It's listeners. 1t was the
song OF strength that couldn't avail
against the snow, possibly of cold and
the despair and courage OF starvation.
These three that heard IL were Injured
to the wilderness; hut moment was
always needed after its last note had
died to regain their gayety.,
They're getting lean and they're
getting savage" Lennox said one
night, stretched on his divan before
the fireplace He was still unable to
walk; but the fractures were knitting
slowly and the doctor had promised
that the summer would find him well.
IF we, had a dog. | wouldn't offer
much for his life. One Of these days
wen find 'em In big circle around
the house-and then We'll have to
open up with the rifles"
But this picture appalled, neither OF
his two young listeners. No wolf pack
can stand against three marksmen,
armed with rifles and behind oaken
walls.
Christmas came and passed. and
January brought clear days and an
ineffective sun shining on the snow.
These were the best days Of all. Every
afternoon Dan and SnOwbird would
90 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 Lemons objection. "She
could kill FIVE wolves with five shots.
or pretty near II, and you know well
enough that that would hold 'em till
we got home. They'd stop to eat the
FIVE. ! have hard enough time keep
ing up with her as II 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
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 quality in the song
that they had heard at night seemed
10 bear il 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 thaw that had soft
ened the snow crust; but now every
afternoon was too perfect to remain
indoors. They shouted and romped in
the silences, 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
the phosphorus glowing in rotten log
from which the winds had blown the
snow.
Once or twice they caught glimpses
Of wild life: once a 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 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
amaZement 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 a mistake I'm 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
brigands 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 fred twice at the fleeing
figure.
The second shot was a hit both of
them saw the wolf 60 TO its side, then
spring mp and race on. Shouting, both
Of them sped after him.
In few moments he was out of
sight among the distant trees. but they
found the blood-trail and mushed over
the ridge. They expected at any mo.
ment to find him lying dead; but the
track led them on clear down the next
canyon. And now they cared not nj
all whether they found him. IL was
simply a tramp In the out-of-doors
and both of them were young with red
blood In their veins.