The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-08

the Wild brute passions IN the killers
heart but also. Tor fraction OF a
second, destroyed the fino edge OF
I2ndy's nerve
lie shot; but he did not take quite
long enough 10 mako out his target
thru The sights Tho hall sped like
il hot iron along his rivals scalp, TAX
ing n narrow strip Of fur and skin,
and the creatures Hnarl changed TO
a sen Of pain and fear. Before
Landy could fire again. he had gone.
lie left his prey TO IRndy. but the
man did not want Il now. The pclt
was not worth sklnning. And he also
left tho knowledge that here was the
beginning Of long rivalry. one that
could never end as long as they
hunted the came distriet-a bitter
war hetwcen these two rcmorsciess
decr-slayors. iandy the hide-huntcr,
and tawny Pounce. the largest.
strongest. most glorious OF all the
cougars that ranged the lake country,
Tho wound on Pouneo's scalp had
no more serious effect than 90 give
him. at times. raeking headache, TO
increase his natural caution and 10
I'M him with a dcathless hatred for
all mankind lie had no other real
natural enemies One glance ne his
1.-the form. tho muscles that rippled
Ike water under his tawny skin. and
one could understand why even tho
bull elk turned in terror az the cou-
gar-smtll on the wind
Pounce measured almost nine feet
from the tip Of his long. ropolike tail
TO the end OF his whiakcrA His coat
was largely a rich. tawny huc-not
spotted. like his first cousins OF the
Old Worthwhile on the inside Of
the legs and under the belly. Now
that he was fulfilled. his countenancc
MAS rather pleasant. and he purred
gently as he prepared Tor his morn
ing slumbcr. AZ present. his jaws
were closed otherwise. a spectator
might have got an entirely different
idea OF Pouncc's character and dispo.
sitlon. In that mouth there was ar
ranged. by an inscrutahlc nature. as
efficient a set Of deadly weapons as
one would care TO feel In front werc
great dog sharp fangs that
could break an ordinary human YER
tehrae at one closing. But. OF course.
ordinarily. human vertcbrae wcro not
In pouneo's line. Any backbone that
was erect. instead OF horizontal. filled
his wicked heart with terror.
II can b. underhtood that old
Ashur. tho black bear. ordinarily a
fish-eatrr and honey grubhcr. but n
slashing. smashing. chain-llEhtninE
fighter when be put his claws TO Il.
had no wish deliberately 10 seek n
fight with Pounce But never lc; IL
be thought that he would turn tail In
a crisis AAhur was a discreet bear.
afraid Of his life OF human beings
and with such a great hump Of hui
NOR that he entirely missed tho In
sufferahlc conccit that marks prac-
iieaily all Of the larger beasts. but he
was not coward. Besides he had a
quick sideways slap that Is just an.
other name for death. Ashur avoided
Pouncc: but way down In the great
cats cunning. wicked soul. he had n
most wholesome fear OF Aahur.
Even the gray wolves. tho very
carnats symbols Of tho Wild. kept
carefully from Pounce's trail. Such
creatures as the coyote. poor rela-
ton OF the wolves. and the lynx. a
small edition Of Pounce. and the al
most vanished wolverine. who knows
many things. but never has learned
yet when TO stop fighting had all
about ns much chance with Pounce
as maEpie with a rnartcn.
The nights we're beloved BY Pounco
past any speaking. Particularly tho
moouiit nights, when the strange ar
gent beams probed thru every riff in
the tall. dusky pines. These were the
nights when he knew that the deer
were feeding on the hills.
On such snishts Pounce's blood
seemed 10 turn 10 liquid fire in his
veins This was the very glory OF
hunting-the first glimpse OF buck.
feeding quietly on the hillside. tho
GREATNESS stalk. tho exquisite walt by
the trail. the frightful leap when all
his complex nervous system seemed
70 snap and break from incxprcsai-
bic northumberland then the tri.
umph, the Eorging, the long. fulfilled
slumber OF contentment iIc loved
the life that had been ordained for
him. this tawny decr-slayer OF the
southern Oregon lake country. The
seasons passed one after another. Civ
Ing him added weight and length, adj