The Glenwood post., 1921-01-29

that he 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 shot 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 We're, 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 moment, shivering.
Then he bounded on. again.
The third shot was miss too: In
fact, there had been no chance for
hit. A sound in the darkness is as
unreliable target as can possibly be
imagined. And it didn't brighten 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. 1t was fear
sound, and If there is one emotion
with which the wild beasts are ac-
uuainted in all its 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 fiesh-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 Wool 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
heavy man over such a trail as this,
and she was red-nostriled and lath-
cred before half mile had been COW
cred He made her leap up the rocks,
and on fairly level stretches he loosed
the reins and dashed her into gallOp.
Only mountain horse could have
stood that test. He gave no thought
to his own safety. His courage was
at the test. and no risk of his own
life must interfere with his attempt
to save Snowbrd from the danger
that threatened her. He didn't know
when the horse would fall with him
and precipitate him down preciplce,
and he was perfectly aware that to
crash into a low-hanging limb of one
OF the great trees beside the trail
would probably crush his skull. But
he took the chance. And before the
ride was done ne found himself plead
ing with the horse, even as he lasheo
her sides with his whip.
Inc lesser lbltNN 70 hPi"'S
from his trail and once the mare
leaped high to miss dark shadow
that crossed in front. AS she caught
her stride Dan heard a squeal and
rattle of quilts that identified the crea-
ture as porcupine.
By now lie had passed the first OF
the worst grades, coming out upon
long, easy slope of open forest. Again
he urged his horse. leaving to her
keen senses alone the choosing of the
path between the great tree trunks.
Then he heard Snowhrd fire for the
fourth time and he knew that he had
almost overtaken her. The repor,
seemed to smash the air. And he
dashed his horse into the fastest run
! she knew-a wild, sobbing figure IN
the darkness.
"She's only got one shot more" he
said. He knew how many bullets her
pistol carried and the danger-what-
ever ii was-must be just at hand. I'm
derbrush cracked beneath him. And
then the horse drew up with a jerk
that almost hurled him from the sad
die.
He lasted AT her in vain. She was
not afraid in the darkness and the
rocks OF the trail, but some Terror In
the woods in front had in an instant
| broken his control over her. 81
reared. snorting: then danced In 80
impotent circle. Meanwhile precous
seconds were fleeing.
| He understood now. The horse
stood still, shivering beneath him, but
would not advance step. The silence
| deepened. Somewhere in the dark
ness before him great cougar was
waiting by the trail, and Snowbird.
| hoping for the moment that II had
given up the chase, was Fastening
| through the shadows squarely into Its
| ambush.
WhiSDerfOOt crOuched lower. and