The Dolores star., 1921-08-05
Copyright. 1920. by Little. Brown & Co

And Snowbird-I didn't like his looks.
He's too gaunt and he's too hungry
and haven't bit OF doubt he waited
In that brush for us to come, Intend
Ing to attack us-and lost his nerve
the last thing. That shows he's des-
perate. don't like him. and l wouldn't
like his pack. And whole pack might
not lose its nerve"
Then you think we'd better turn
back?"
Yes. do. and not come out any
more without whole pocket Of shells.
I'm going to carry rifle. too, just as
Lennox has always. He's got only a
fesh-wound. You saw what you did
with two cartridges-got In one flesh
wound. Three Of 'em against pack
wouldn't be great deal Of aid.
don't mean to say you can't shoot, but
jumping, lively wolf Is worse than
bird in the air. We've gone over
three miles; and he'd lead US ten miles
farther-even II he didn't go to the
pack. Let's go back"
IF You say so. But I don't think
there's the least bit OF danger We
can always climb a tree"
"And have 'em make beautiful
circle under It They've got more pa
tience than we have-and we'd have
to come down some time. Your father
can't come to our help. you know. It's
the sign Of the tenderfoot not to think
there's any danger-and I'm not going
to think that way any more"
They turned back and mushed in
silence n long time.
81 suppose you'll think I'm a COW.
ard" Dan asked her humbly.
only prudent, Dan" she answered.
smiling. Whether she meant 1t he did
not know. "Im Just beginning to un-
derstand that you-living here only a
few months-really know and under
stand all this better than I do" She
stretched her arms wide to the wildes-
ness. 81 guess it's your instinct"
"And I do understand" he told her
earnestly. 81 sensed danger back
there just as sure as I can see your
face. That packard it's big ONE
is close; and it's terribly hungry. And
you know-you can't help but know
that the wolves are not to be trusted
in famine times"
81 know it only too WE'LL" she said.
Then she paused and asked him
about strange grayneSs, like snow
blown by the wind, on the sky over
the ridge.
Bert Cranston waited in n clumn NJ
exposed thlcket on the hillside mt,
he saw two black dots thar ha know,
were Dan and Snowbird leave .bs
LennoX home. He lay very still a,
they circled up the ridge, noticing
that except for the pistol that he
knew Snowbird always carried, they
were unarmed. There was no par,
ticnlar reason why he should be inter
eSted in that point. 1t was lust the
mountain way always to look fo-
weapons, and it is rather difficult tn
trace the mental processes behind this
impulse. Perhaps ii can be laid tn
the fact that many mountain families
are OFTEN at feud with one another.
and anything in the way of vioencs
ma! "appeh oeiore the morning.
Inc TWO passed out of his sigh,
anu alter Il iohS time he heard the
ciach OF Showblrds pistol. H.
guessed mat she mad either shot st
some wiz creature, or else was mere,
~ III target prnctice-rather COR.
mon proceeding Tor the two when
theE were on the nils together. Thui
Is 10 be seen that Cranston knew
thelr h'p'ts 1airiy well. And since he
hau kept close watch upon them foH
several days. this was to be expected
he had no intention Of being inter
rupteu IN ms work he was about tn
90. lie mad Planned 1t all very well.
Inc eIder Lehnox was still helples:
Crahston had noticed that when Dan
ana Showbird went out, they were
usually gone from two to four hours !;
and that gave him plenty of time for
come ar laSt IN ,n,Iyo , .l>