The Jasper news., 1921-07-21
CHAPTER discontinued.

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sake of speed. He gave no heed to the
fallen timber that might have torn the
web of his snow shoes to shreds. Be-
cause he shut out all thought of 1t, he
had no feeling Of fatigue. The fight
with Cranston had been a frightful
strain on muscle and nerve; but he
scarcely remembered 1t now. His
whole purpose was TO return to Snow
bird before the wolves lost the last of
their cowardice.
The jerked venison that he had
munched had brought him back much
Of his strength. He was wholly uncon-
scious of his heavy pack. Never did
he glide so swiftly, so softly, with
such unerflng step; and 1t was moth
Ing more or less than perfect express
sion of the iron-clad control that his
steel nerves had over his muscles.
Then, through the silence, he heard
the shout of the pack as the wolf had
leaped at Snowbird. He knew what 1t
meant. The wolves were attacking
then, and great flood Of black, hating
bitterness poured over him ut the
thought he had been too late 1t had
all been In vain, and before the thought
could fully go home, he heard the dim,
far-of crack of pistol.
Was that the first of the three shots,
the one she might expend on the
wolves, or had the first two already
been spent and was she taking the last
gateway Of escape2 Perhaps even now
Lennox was lying still on the-sled, and
she was standing before the ruin Of
her fire. praying that her soul might
have wings. He shouted with oil the
power ofhis lungs across the snow.
But Snowbird only heard the soft
glide Of the wolves In the snow. The
wind was blowing toward Dan; and
while he had heard the loud chorus Of
the pack, one of the most far-carrying
cries, and the penetrating crack Of a
pistol, she couldn't hear his answering
shout. In fact, the wilderness seemed
preternaturally still. All was breath
less, heavy with suspense, and she
stood, just as Dan had thought, be-
tween the ruin Of her fire and the sled,
and she looked with straight eyes to
the oncomlng wolves.
Hurry Snowbird," Lennox was
whispering. "Give me the pistol--for
that last work. We have only a mo-
ment more"
He looked very calm and brave, half
raised as he was on the sled, and per-
haps half-smile fingered at his beard
ed lips. And the bravest thing of all
| hot To hnr. hn xrtllt nO
to tnke the little weapon from her
hand to use 1t In its last service. She
tried to smile at him, then crept over
to his side.
The strain was over. They knew
what they had TO face. She put the
pistol in his steady hand.
His hand lowered 10 his side and he
sat waiting. The moments passed. The
wolves seemed to be waiting, too, for
the last Pickering tongue of the little
fire to die away. The last of her fuel
was ignited and burning out; they
were crouched and ready to spring II
she should venture forth after more
The darkness closed down deeper, and
at last only a column of smoke re-
manned.
1t was nothing to be afraid OF. The
great gray leader of the pack, vol
that weighed nearly 100 pounds, be
gan slowly and deliberately to set his
muscles for the spring. 1t was the
same as when the great bull elk comes
TO bay at the base of the cliffs; usual
ly some one wolf, often the great pacl
leader, wishing to remind his followers
of his might, or else some full-growr
male prond In his strength, will attach
alone. Because this was the nobles
game that the pack had ever faced
the leader chose TO make the first LEAF
himself. 1t was true that these two
had neither such horns nor razor
edged hOofs as che elk, yet they haC
eyes that chilled his heart when HI
tried to iook at them. But one wal
lying almost prone, and the fire wa.
{ out. Besides, the madness of starva
ton, ipeenslfied ten times by their ter
rible realization of the wound at he
hip, was upon the pack as never be
fore The muscles punched at hi
lean,flankR
But as Snowbird and her fathel
gazed at him In fascinated horror, thu
great wolf suddenly smashed down Il
the snow. Che was aware OF its curl
ous, utter collapse actually before til,
Oound OF the riha ahot that occaaiona.