The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-01-10
THE
SKYLINE
SPRUCE
bv Edison MARSHALL

course was 70 rrrfnH TOT " IN the
instant that remained. and trust 90
its mighty shocking power TO stop
the charge that would IN a moment
ensue. Yet n seemed 20 tear tho
life fiber OF tho man TO do H. His
Utmost Instincts. urgent and loud In
his ear. told him 10 remain on
guard. not 90 leave that cavern
NAV for an instant. but 10 protect
with his own body the precious life
that II sheltered. His mind worked
with that incredible speed that 10
usually manifest In q orisis ana he
knew that the creature might
charge into tho cavern entrance In
the second that he left H. Yet only
IN the rife lay the least chance or
hope for either Of Thorn.
AT him. Fenrisr~ he shouted. TIE
wolf leaped forward like . thrown
spear,--aimoet too fast for the eye
10 follow. lie was desthly AFRAID.
with full knowledge OF the power
Of tho enemy he went 60 combat.
but his fears were impotcnt TO no.
strain him at the first sound of that
masterful voice. These were the
words he had waited for. lie could
never diaobey such words a. thsse--
from the tips Of his SOD And Benz
mind had worked true: he know that
the wolf could likely hold the orea-
turs a, bay until he could seine his
rifle
In an instant n was IN HE hands.
and he had sprung back 10 his post
In front OF tho cavern NAV. And
presently he remembered. hoartsiok.
that tho weapon was not loaded.
For his own safety he had kept n
empty on tho outward Journey. part.
ly 90 prevent accident partly TO be
sure that his prisoner could not turn
Il against him. But he had shells
In tho pocket Of his jacket His
hand CROPPED. bur hi. reaching fin
gers found but one she'll. dropping
II swiftly into tho gun And now
seek another. Tho beast In tho dark.
ness had launched into the charge.
Thereafter there was only . grva,
confusion. event piled upon event
with incredible rapfdity. and q
whole lifetime OF stress and fear
lived in a eingis infant The crea-
lures first lunge carried him into
the brighter moonlight: and at once
Ben recognized fts breed. No woods
man could mistake the high. rocking
shoulders. tho bury form. the
wicked ears Laid back against the
fiat. massive head. the fangs gisnm.
ting white. the long. hooked claws
siashing thru the turf as he ran.
IL was . terrible thing 20 see and
stand against. In the half darkness.
The shadows aeoentustsd the tow.
ering outline and forgotten tsrrors.
lurking. since the world wAs young.
In tho labyrinth Of the germ piasm.
wakened and spread like icy streams
thru tho mortal body and seemed
70 threaten to sxfingu.sh the warm
Game Of the vsry soul
The griniy bawied - ~ eanA a
explosive. Incredible Storm Of sounl
Few indeed are the Wilderness Geap
tures that can charge n a1sn1ss
muscular ezsrtiou cannot alone ~
nsvs their gHthersd fSoed of ma
rsas and fury. And q once IN
ssnssd the tmpuiss behind ths - !
tack He ana the SRI haA maAs !
thsir home IN the gr4sxfysU 0vO-I
the lair wherein he haA
thru the winter end
which he ssiii sisvs tn from sms -
tims--snd he had como "a arivs
them out Only death could pay
for such insolsncs ~ shis---to make
= nishrs lair IN the den Of hss scv.
srossnty. the grizzly.
IL IL not tho accustomed t1iin9 for
\ grizzly 10 make an unprovcksd
attack. He has done 10 many times,
In the history OF the West. but
usually he u glad enough TO turn
aside. only launching into his ter
rfble dsath-chsrws when . mortal
wound oblitsratss his fssr Of man.
leaving only his fear Of DEATH But
this grizzly. native 20 these uninhAb-
tied wilds. had no fear OF man TO
forget. He ala not know what man
was. and he had not learned the
death that dwelis in the shining
weapon hs carries In his arms. No
trappers mushsd thru his shows OF
spring. no woodsman rode his wind
Ing trails True. from the first In
slant that the human smell had
reached him on tho wind he had
been disturbed and discounted; yss
Y was not grizzly nature to yield
his den without a fight The sisht
OF the wpif-known to him Of old
only Weakened an added rage In his
fierce heart.
The wolf met him ~ his first
leap. sprfnginR with noble courage