Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1922-02-03
CHAPTER li-.Continued.

Father and l are to stay here-F
"What else can you do?" He went
back to his traces and drew the sled
100 yards farther. He didn't seem to
see the gaunt wolf that backed off
into the shadows as he approached.
He refused to notice that the pack
seemed to be steadily growing holder.
Human hunters usually had guns that
could blast and destroy from dis
lance; but even an animal intelli-
gence could perceive that these three
seemed to be without this means of
inficting death.
A wolf Is ever SO much more intelli-
gent than crOw-yet crow shows
little fear Of an unarmed man and is
wholly unapproachable by boy with
gun. The ugly truth was simply that
In their increasing madness and ex-
element and hunger, they were becom-
Ing less and less fearful Of these three
strange humans with the sled.
IT was not q good place for camp.
They worked long time before they
cleared little patch of ground Of its
snow mantle. Dan cut a number Of
saplings with his ax-and
built hre with the comparatively
dry core of dead tree. True, 1t was
feeble and pickering, but as good as
could be hoped for considering the
difficulties under which he worked.
The dead logs under the snow were
soaked with water from the rains and
thaws. The green wood that he cut
smoked without blazing.
mo more time to be lost" Dan told
Snowbird. ut lies in your hands to
keep the fire burning. And don't leave
the circle Of the fire light without
that pistol in your hand"
You don't mean," she asked, unbe-
lieving, that you are going to 60 out
there to fight Cranston-unarmed?"
OF course, Snowbird. You must
keep the pistol"
But 1t means death; that's all 1t
means. What chance would you have
against man with rife? And as
soon as you get away from this fire,
the wolves will tear you to pieces"
"And what would you and your IA
Their do, If took It? You can't get
him into tree. You can't build
big enough fire to brighten them.
Please don't even talk about this mat
ter, Snowbird. My minds made up. I
think the pack will stay here. They
usually-God knows how-know who
Is helpless and who isn't. Maybe with
the gun. you will be able to save your
lives"
Whats the chance of that?"
You might-with ore cartridge
kill one of the devils; and the others
but you know how they devour their
own dead. That might break their
famine enough so that they'd hold Off
until l can get back. That's the prize
I'm playing for"
And what If you don't get back?"
He took her hand in one of his, and
with the other he caressed. for a sim
gle moment, the lovely flesh Of her
throat. The love he had for her spoke
from his eyes-such speech as no hu-
man vision could possibly mistake.
Both Of them were tingling and breath
less with great. sweet wonder.
'Never let those fangs tear that
softness, while you live" he told here
gently. "Never let that brave old man
on the sled go to his death with the
pack tearing at him. Cheat 'em,
Snowbird Beat 'em the last minute,
If no other way remains! Show 'em
who's boss, after all-of all this for
est
You mean" Her eyes widened.
Il mean that you must only spend
one Of those three shells in fighting
off the wolves. Save that till the mo-
ment YOU need 1t most. The other
two must be saved-for something
else"
She nodded, shuddering an instant
at menaciDg shadow that moved
within 60 feet Of the fire.
'Then goodby, DAM" she told him.
And she stretched up her arms ''The
thing l said-that day on the hillside
doesn't hold any more"
His own arms encircled her, but he
made no effort to claim her lips. Len
nox watched them quietly; in this
moment of crisis moi even pretending
TO look away. Dan shook his head TO
her entreating eyes. ut isn't just
kiss, darling" he told her soberly. ST
goes deeper than that It's a symbol.
1t was your word, too, and mine: and
words can't be broken, things being as
they are. Can't I make you under
standw
She nodded. His eyes burned. Per-
haps she didn't understand, as far as
actual functioning of the brain was
concerned. But she reached up To
him. as women-knowing life in the
concrete rather than the abstract
have always reached up to men: and
she dimly caught the CLEAN of some
eternal principle and right behind his
words. This strong man of the noun
tains had given his word, had been
witness TO her own promise to him
and TO herself. and a law that goes
down TO the roots of life prevented
him from claiming the kiss.
Many times, since the world was
new. rt-happiness-life itself
have been contingent on the breaking