Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-07-21

influence upon him. The wild was
calling to him, Weakening instincts
long smothered in cities, but sure and
true as ever. 1t was the beginning
of regeneration. Voices of the long
past were speaking to him, and the
Failings once more had begun to run
true to FORM Inherited tendencies
were in a moment changing this weak,
diseased youth into a frOntiersman
and wilderness inhabitant such as his
ancestors had been before him.
They were slipping along over the
pine needles, their eyes intent on the
trail ahead. And then LennOx saw a
curious thing. He beheld Dan sud-
denly stop in the trail and turn his
eyes toward a heavy thicket that lay
perhaps one hundred yards to their
right For an instant he looked al
most like a wild creature himself. His
head was lowered, as if he were lis
tening His muscles were set and
| ready.
Lennox had prided himself that he
had retained all the powers of his five
senses, and that few men in the noun
tains had keener ears than he. Yet
it was truth that at first he only knew
the silence, and the stir and pulse of
his own blood. He assumed then that
j Dan was watching something that
from his position, twenty feet behind,
he could not see. He tried to probe
the thickets with his eyes.
Then Dan whispered. Ever so soft
sound, but yet distinct in the ST
1ence, "There's something living in
that thicket."
Then Lennox heard it, too. AS they
stood still, the sound became ever
clearer and more pronounced. Some
living creature was advancing toward
them; and twigs were cracking be-
meath its feet. The sounds were rath-
er subdued, and yet, as the animal ap-
preached, both of them instinctively
knew that they were extremely loud
for the usual footsteps of any Of the
wild creatures.
'What is it?" Dan asked quietly.
Lennox was so intrigued by the
sounds that he was not even observ-
ant Of the peculiar, subdued quality
in Dams voice. Otherwise, he would
have wondered at it. "Tm free to
confess 1 don't know" he said. cts
booming right toward us, like most
animals don't care to do. OF course
1t may be a human being. You must
watch out for that"
They waited. The sound ended
They stood straining for a long mo
ment without speech.
"That was the dumdest thing y
Lennox went on. "Of course it might
have been a bear-you never know
what they're going to do. 1t might
have got sight of US and turned off
.. But can't believe that it was just 6
: deer"
But then his words chopped square
ly off in his throat. The plOdding ad
vance commenced again. And the
next instant gray form revealed it
self at the edge Of the thicket,
| It was Graycoat the coyote, half
\ blind with his madness, and DIES
H perate in his agony.
II There was no more deadly thing II
\ all the hills than he. Even, the bit'
! of a rattlesnal1e would have been wei
! coined beside his. He stood lOn'
I instant, and, all his instincts and re
l fexes that would have ordinaril,
I made him flee in abject terror wer
1 thwarted and twisted by the fever o
Al his madness. He stared a moment a
II the two figures, and his red eyes cOult
N not interpret them. They were simpl,
II foes, for it was true that when thi
u racking agony was upon him, evel
II lifeless trees seemed foes sometimes
II He seemed eerie and unreal as h
II gazed at them out of his burning eyes
II and the white foam gathered at hi
/ fangs. And then, wholly withou
warning, he charged down at them.
II He ecame with unbelievable speed
II The elder Lennox cried once in warn
ing and cursed himself for ventul
ing forth en- the ridge without a CUR
He was fully twenty feet distant fror
Dan; yet he saw in an instant hi
only course. This was no time
trust their lives to the marksmanshi
OF an amateur. He sprang towar
Dan, intending to wrench the weapo
It from his hand.
But he didn't achieve his purpos'
At the first step his foot caught in
re projecting root, and he was shot
s. his face on the trail. But long lif
lie in the wilderness had developed Lei
nox's reflexes to an abnormal degree
ee many crises had taught him muscl
IS and nerve control; and only for
Id fraction of an instant, period {
II, time that few instruments are fir
lg enough to measure, did he lie supinel
as upon the ground. He rolled on, I'M
I'll d position of defense. But he kne
now he could not reach the youngt
lg man before the mad coyote would
re upon them. The matter was out {
his hands. Everything depended c
w the aim and self-control of the tende
C. foot.