New Britain herald., 1922-12-27

saw an actual avenue to life and
 safety Don't give any sign"
 Then hurry" he urged. .sThey
 may be back my instant. What Is Iit?"
 "A way to cheat 'em--to keep them from torturing you--and to save me -when you're dead. Oh. Ben--you won't fail me-you'll do 1t for me-"
 He smiled, gently and strongly.
 Do you think I'd fall you now?"
 Then reach your good arm on the other side. There's knife lying there--your own knife--they Knocked out of my hand. You know what to do-frst me. in the throat-then yourself" -T
 He turned. groplng with his hand. There was no use of waiting longer. The knife lay just beyond his reach and softly he moved his body through the grass.
 But his gate to mercy was closed before they reached it. A sudden flaring of the fire revealed them-the gleam of the blade and Ben's stretch ing hand-and Ray left his log in a swift, catlike leap.
 With sharp oath Ray crushed the blade into the ground with his heel; then kicked viclously at the prone body of his enemy.
 His eye fell on a long, heavy club of spruce that had been cut for fuel. He bent and his strong hands seized it. As he swung it high the girl leaped between-with last, frantic effort, wholly instinctive-to shield Ben's body with her own. Chan had fol- lowed Ben. and sharing Rays fieldish mood, jerked her aside.
 Yet 1t was to be that Rays murder ous blow was never to so home. Al mighty and terrible ally had come to Ben's aid. He came bouncing from the darkness, a gaunt and dreadful avenger whose code of death was as remorseless as Rays own.
 It was Ferris the wolf, and he had found his master at last. Missing him at the accustomed place in the cave, he had trailed him to the lake margin: a smell on the wind had led him the rest of the way. Like a | ghost he had glided almost Go the edge of the freight lingering there until he had made up his brute mind in regard to the strangers in the camp. But he had waited only until he saw Ray kick the helpless form before him-that of the god that Fen ris, for all the wild had claimed him, still worshipped in his inmost heart. | With fiendish, maniacal fury he had | sprung to avenge the blow.
 And his three followers, trained by | the pack laws to follow where he led, | and keyed to the highest pitch by | their leaders fury, leaped like gray demons of the Pit in his wake.
 As young tree breaks and goes down in the gale Ray Brent went | down before the combined attack of | the wolves.
 Before ever Ray fell, Ben had taken what measures of self-defense he could in case the pack, forgetting it's master, might turn on himself and the girl. He had reached the knife hilt and severed the ropes about the girls wrists. Stay behind me-" he cau- toned. Don't move a muscle"
 He saw Chan go down, seemingly in single instant, and he braced himself against attack. Down, Fem ris!" he shouted. "Down-get down!'
 The great wolf started at the voice. then stood beside the fallen, gazing at Ben with fierce, luminous eyes. Down. down, boy" Ben cautioned, in a softer voice. There, old fellow 
 Then Ferris whined In answer, and Ben knew that he was no longer to be feared. The three lesser wolves , seemed startled, standing in a nervous group, yet growing savagely and eye , ing him across the dying fire. Fen ris trotted slowly toward Ben, but , with the true instincts of the wild his , followers knew that this was no affair of fangs and death. He came in I love, in a 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 i, ghosts.
 Bens arms, in unspeakable grati- tude, went about the shoulders of the wolf. Beatrice, sobbing uncontrol- f ably yet swept with that infinite ( of the redeemed, crept to | his side. Ferris whined and shiv- 1 cred in the arms of his god.
 Quietude came at last to that camp I beside the lake, in the far, hidden f heart of Back There. I
 The wolves had gone. Fenris' l