The Belding banner-news., 1921-04-06


caution that most wild animals ex-
hibit when hunting new game so
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 nj last he
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 ny mere sound. This
was the cry the man-pack always
made-tlIeSe sudden startling sounds
In the silence. But he felt no pain.
He cr0uched a moment, shlvering.
Then he bounded on again.
The third shot was miss too: in
fact. there had been no Glance for IA
hit. A. sound in the darkness is as
unreliable a target aS can possibly be
imagined. And il didn't frightcn him
- much as the others. He waited,
crouching. and the girl started on.
She WAS making other sounds now
queer. Uhimpering sounds not greatly
different from the bleat that the fnwn
utters when II dies. II was fear
sound and If there is one emotion
with which the wild beasts are ac-
quainted. in all it's phases, il is fear.
she was afraid Of him. then. and that
meant he need no longer he in the
least afraid of her. His skin began TO
twitch all over with that terrible mad
ness and passion Of the fesh-hunterS.
This game was like the deer and
the thing to do was lie i'm wait. There
was only one trail He wasn't afraid
Of losing her i'm the darkness. She
was neither fleet like the deer nor
courageous like WoOf 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 10 know
as the darkness pressed around him,
that he was To be tried i'm the fire. And
the horse staggered beneath him as
he tried TO hasten.
lie showed no mercy 10 his mount.
Horse-fesh isn't made for carrying n
heavy man over such trail aS this.
and she was red-nostriled and lath-
cred before haR mile had been COW
cred. He made her leap up the rocks
and on fairly level stretches he loosed
the reins and lashed her into a 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 Snowbird from the danger
that threatened her. He didn't know
when the horse would fall with him
and precipitate him down a precipice,
and he was perfectly aware that TO
crash into n 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 he found himself plead
ing with the horse, even as he laslred
her sides with his whip.
The lesser forest creatures sprang
from his trail and once the mare
lcaped high to miss a dark shadow
that crossed In front. As she caught
her stride. Dan heard a squeal and
rattle of quills 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 chosing of the
path between the great tree trunks.
Then he heard Snowbird fire for the
fourth time; and he knew that he had
almost overtaken her. The report
seemed 10 smash the air. And he
lashed 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 1t was-must be just at hand. I'm
derbrush cracked beneath him. And
then the horse drew up with jerk
that almost hurled him from the sad
die.
lie lashed 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. She
reared, snorting; then danced In an
impotent circle. Meanwhile. precious
seconds were fleeing.
lie understood now. The horse
stood still, shlvering beneath him. but
would not advance a step. The silence
dccpened. Somewhere in the dark
ness before him a great cougar was
waiting by the trail and Snowbird,
hoping for the moment that II had