South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-22
THE SKY LINE
OF SPRUCE
by EDISON M1RSHALL

This was her chance: Ben still lay
asleep.
Just 20 steal down to the waters
edge. push or the canoe. and trust
her life 10 the doubtful mercy Of
the river.
she could discern the black sha-
dow OF the canoe. She stepped
nearer.
But at that instant a subdued note
or warning froze her IN her tracks.
A great, gaunt form raised up
from the Pile OF duffle IN the canoe:
and his fangs showed ivory white
IN the wan light. II was Ferris, and
he guarded tho canoe. He crouched.
ready 10 spring II she drew near.
The girl sobbed once. then stole
back 10 her blankets.
After breakfast they took 10 the
river yielding themselves once more
to the whims OF the current.
shortly before the noon hour
Bcu's quick eye saw = break in the
heavy brushwood that lined the
bank and quickly padded toward H.
ia moment more he pushed the
canoe into the mud Of the creek
bank.
They crossed a low ridge, follow
Ing down another Of the thousand
creeks that water the northern
lands. In a moment IL led them TO a
long. narrow lake. blue as a sap
phire in its frame OF duslIy spruce.
And all at once Beatrice, walking
i'm front, drew up with a gasp.
She stood at the edge OF a little
glade, perhaps thirty yards across.
laying at the base Of the cliff. The
creek flowed through il. the grass
was green and rich. beloved 10y the
antlered herds that came to Craze,
the tail spruce shaded it on three
sides. But it was not these things
that caught the girls eye Just at
the edge OF a glade a dark hole
yawned in the face Of the cliff.
It's home" the man aaid simply.
CHAPTER XII
\ Strange COmradcship.
Ben and Beatrice went together
back to the canoe, and in two trips
they carried the supplies 10 the
cave.
Tired from the hard tramp, yea
sustained by vague excitement
neither Of them could name or trace,
they began TO prepare for the night
The silence dropped about them,
settling slowly; and all except the
largest heap Of red Goals burned
down to gray ashes.
The brush cracked and rustled Just
beyond the glowing Goals.
Some huge wilderness creature
was venturing toward them, at the
edge of the little glade.
What is it?" Beatrice whispered
The mans eyes strained into the
gloom.
Il don't know 1t may be just a
moose. or maybe a caribou. But it
may be
His eve fell to the croaching form
OF Fenris.
Ben leaped to reach his gun.
at him, Fenris," ne shouted. The
wolf leaped forward like a thrown
sDear-almost too fast for the eye
to follow.
Thereafter there was only a great
confusion, event piled upon event
with incredible rapidly. a grizzly
luHged into sight with incredible
storm Of sound.
Immediately the wolf sprang,
ready to wage this unequal battle 70
the death. But his brave fight was
tragicalIy hopeless Yet by the law
OF his wild heart ne could not turn
and flee His master had given his
orders, end he must obey them to
the end.
The bear paused one instant; then
lunged forth again.
But the breath in which the wolf
had stayed the charge had given Ben
his chance. with swift motion OF
his arm he had projected the single
rife shell into the chamber OF the
weapon. The stock snapped to his
shoulder; and his keen, glittering
eyes sought the sights.
His finger pressed back steadily
against the trigger. The slightest
dinchiug. the smallest motion might
yet throw off his aim. The r;ne
spoke with a roar.
The grizzly was In his death
agony nothing more; yet in that
final CONFUSION he could rip into
shreds the powerful form that OPP
posed him. Ben dropped the empty
rifle and seized the axe that leaned
against a log OF spruce beside the
fire.
Just in time Ben sprang aside,
out Of the reach Of those terrible
forearms. and his axe swung might
..v In the air
Ben's powers increased. rather
than lessened. Ever he swung his
terrible axe with greater power.
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