The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-09

such little scurryiug folk gopher
and their fcllowa-en might 30
curious az 60 tho nature OF his blaze.
Gibbs stood az last not 30 feet dis
isnt la tho shadows. his presence alb
toiutoly unEucsaed. and watched tho
Indian cook supper
The latter made n perfect target.
and Gibbs hands fumhled hungrily M
his rifle. ono little iitting u the
weapon softly. ono glance along the
hghta. little haif-ouncc OF pressure
az the trigger. and Toms next report
would be made 90 the huEEards that
gather from tho slS, Nor was u
mercy that restrained iandy's triE-
ger-nnger n was fear-that Of the
law. from which hc was now fugi-
tive.
lie decided at once that Tom was
hunting perhaps tho cougar. pos
sihly on Iandy'S own trail Ito car
ried outfit FOR two nights camp.
Tho smell OF frying bacon was en-
tielug, Indeed. tho mans pack
seemed crammed with 'siorc" food.
flour and coffee and sugar and such
supplies az he likely kept In great
abundance az his main supply-eahn
further up-Streatm And Long Tom
did not sleep at home tonight The
greater share Of his stores his rifle
cartridges, unset traps aud All tho
equipment that made life possible IN
tho wllds were left upguarded.
Landy Gibbs did not require any
great length OF time 70 decide on
his course. Thosc stores meant IN.
dependence supplies with which he
could flee back into Tho unsuryeyed
where even the arm Of the law could
not reach. ilo could leave Tom iyiue
In his ashes then. and not 30 afraid
Of pursuit iIo could leave him thu
now N he know for certain tho real
extent OF tho stores. Shiverlng viii,
hatred. he turned back TO his own
camp
lie was never without HIS gun
now he procured IN addition his AK. a
gunny sack or two and an old fash.
Toned dark lan,ern. huring candle
that he used for camp-nght Thnn
stridlng swiftly. he followed up the
stream and soon made out the cabin,
ghostly In the moonlight. on the hin
side. No lamp burned In lta win
dowa; there was no further need Tor
caution. Likely the door was not
locked II Il was. no would break
II with his hx.
He walked boldly 90 the door. Tom
had attached "A crude device 90 make
4 stay closed: but there was no lock
az far aa Gibbs could sce. There was
no need whatever for stealth. "a.
ccp, for Tom himself. he was the
only human being IA thousand
square miles Of forest, He tried the
knob.
Tho door opened easily. he thought
he stepped into the gloom. onIy
slightly startled when the dooi
slammed shut behind him. The deer
quality % the darkness. however. wal
somewhat oppressive. Likely ths
place WIS filthy with pack-rats; h
thought he heard faint rustic. lie
fumbIcd with hia dark lantern.
! His fingers did not NJ once on.
counter the catch that slipped back
the protecting steel In working with
the light. he became bawlldered NJ
TO the exact location OF the door
suddenly he found the catch. Aid
back ID. steel shade. and tho wan
light streamed out
I He turned II slowly In his hand
seeking the door The feeble rayi
swept round the little room. TN,
place was tecmiug with stores. and
all that remained was 20 take then
and so. The rays suddenly found mr.
answering light-two curious pale.
blue circles glowing in corner.
Just an instants glance. IN n,
midst OF n scream. showed I.andy
the truth. Wilderness vengeance
infinitely patient. had tracked hlm
down and seized him ut last.
The light showed the long thwnJ
body Of Pounce. the great cougar
desperate with rage and terror, poises
and ready 70 spring. The man Eropct
for the door. and succeeded In open
ing Il halfway Then something
that was like rcsistless storm beat
down upon him.
The little woods-crenturcs that haf
seen him 20 in waited a Ions time foi
him 10 reappear again. They heart
the sound OF great battle. figh
10 the death in which an old fue,
was being settled. Man was Eiycr
In the beginning fighters build Ia
perfect construction for physlca
activity as nature ever hit upon
and It can be sald for Landy tha'
he made the most OF It. He was ~
tough as forged iron. and. besides, h,
managed 20 whip his knife from his
belt as he went down. The cougar
found need for all his might,
strength before this hated prey woult
lie still Indeed. II was ms Eoof
hunting as these two killers could asl
for-and the best OF IL was thcS
could hurt no one but each other.
They fought great fight In the
close darkness. claws and fangs
wrenching muscles and surglnr
shoulders. and the cruel knife drink.
ing blood. II was true that some Of
Long Toms best furniture was brok.
en- 10 Mndling and his device fol
closing the door irremediably ruined
The noise OF conflict disturbed IN,
little forest people scurrying on Tho
bill. But even this ceased after :
time. and the silence came creeping
back. Outside. tho forest thing,
waitcd for the victor 10 reappear
But after a slowly passing hour boti
contestants still fingered In the dark,
ened cabin.
Finally. gopher. who couldn't 30,
clearly at n distance with his half
blind eyes. crept near and peered II
the moonlit doorway. Then h,
scampered swiftly bqclS to his peopl,
with the word that Pounce and Ian.
dy had indeed made truce. II wa
the kind OF peaoc-pact that delighted
every living creature far and Wild,
thru n thousand square miles OF for
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