South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-27
THE SKY LINE
OF SPRUCE
bv EDISON MARSHALL

down before the combined attack Of
The wolves.
Before ever Ray fell, Ben hao
taken what measures Of self-defense
hs could In case the pack. forgetting
Us masters master, might turn Oh
himself and the girl. He had reached
the knife hilt and severed the ropes
about the girls wrists. stay be-
hind me-" he cautioned Don't
move a muscle"
He saw Chan 60 down. seemingly
IN "a single instant. and he braced
himself against attack. Down,
FenrLs." he shouted. "Down-get
down."
The great wolf started at the
voice. then stood beside the fallen.
gazing ut Ben with fierce. luminous
eyes. Down. down. boy" Ben eau
toned, in "A softer voice. There, old
fellow-down.-down."
Then Fenris whined in answer.
and Ben knew that he was no longer
TO be feared The three lesser
wolves seemed startled. standing in
Ia nervous group. yet growing saw
dying fire. Fenris trotted slowly to-
ward Ben, but with the true in
stinct Of the wild his followers
knew that this was no affair Of
langs and death He came i'm love.
IN remembered comradeship, Just
as often he had led them TO the
mouth OF the cavern. and they did
not understand. They slowly backed
away into the shadows, fading like
ghosts.
Ben's arms, in unspeakab1e grai-
tude. went about the shoulders Of
the wolf. Beatrice, sobbirg uncon-
trolably yet swept with that infinite
tina nkculness of the redeemed. crept
TO his side. Fenris whined and shiv-
erred in the arms of his god
Quietude came at last 20 that
camp beside the lake. in the far
hidden heart Of Back There
The wolves had gone Fenris's
three brethren had slipped away.
PERHAPS wholly mvstifed and deep
ly awed by their madness of n mo-
ment before; and from the ridge top
they had called for their leader to
I n
he had avenged the base blow that
had seemed to strike at his own wild
! heart, he had received the caress he
had craved-and there was no law
for him TO stay The female called
enticingly the wild game was run
ming for his pleasure on the trails
Ben had watched the struggle in
his fierce breast, and Beatrice's eyes
were soft and wonderfully lustrous
IN the subdued light as she gave the
wolf a parting carass.
He could not deny the call Of his
followers on the ridge. It was like
a chain. drawing him remoIseIe ssly
to them. Whining. he had sped
away into the darkness.
The fire had been built up Rea-
trice had rallied her spent strength
by fun feeding Of the rich. dried
meat. and had done what she could
for Nelson's injury Ben. exhaust
I'd. had lain down in some Of the
{ blankets Of his encmy's outfit. Neil
son was not -mortally hurt. The bull
let had Coursed through the region
Of his shoulder. missing his heart
l IT
but unconscious, they had every
reason TO believe that a few weeks
OF rest would see him we'll again.
Beatrice hathed the wound. ban
d1ged II the best she could. then
covered him UP warmly and let him
go 20 sleep And the time came at
last long after tho midnight hour.
that she crept once more TO Ben's
5de.
There was little indeed for them
1 90 say. The stress of the night had
aiken from them almost all desire 20
.aik But Ben took her hand i'm his
feeb,y. and held IL against his lips.
We're safe now Beatrice told
( him. her eyes still bright with tears.
We've seen it through and were
safe"
Presently she saw that ne was try
( iuE TO speak to her. whisr ering: try
nE 20 draw her ear down to his lips.
I She smiled with an infinite tender
ness. Dimly though he spoke. she
/ heard him every word.
81 love YOU" he told simply He
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