Evening star., 1924-07-28

husky ed-dog," Sill said. 81 wouldn't
be s'prsed to see it wag its tail.
Hello, you husky" he called. Come
here. you whatever-your-n -name-is."
Amt bit scairt of YOU" Henry
laughed.
Bliss waved his hand at it threaten
ingly and shouted loudly; but the
animal betrayed no fear. The only
change in 1t that they could notice was
an accession of alertness. 1t still re-
fulness of hunger. They were meat.
and it was hungry; and it would like
to go in and eat them if it dared.
Look here, Henry" Bill said. 'un-
consciously lowering his voice to a
whisper because Of what he meditated.
We've got three cartridges. But it's
a dead shot. Couldn't miss it. It's
got away with three Of our dogs. an
we oughter put a stop to it. What
dye say"
cautiously slipped the gun from under
the sled la shing. The gun was on the
way to his shoulder. but it never got
there. For in that instant the She
wolf leaped sidewise from the trail into
the clump of spruce trees and disap-
peared.
The two men looked at each other.
Henry whistled long and comprehend
ingIy. ,o,,s :. - ,,u, o,,dod
himself aloud, as he replaced the gun.
.'Of course wolf that knows enough
to come in with the dogs at feedln'
time, d know all about shooting irons.
l tell you right now, Henry, that crit
ter's the cause of all our trouble. Wed
have six dogs at the present time,
stead of three, if it wasn't for her.
An l tell you right now, Henry, I'm
be shot in the open. But I'm goin' to
lay for her. I'll bushwhack her as
sure as my name is Bill
You needn't stray too far In doin
it," his partner admonished. If that
lack ever starts to jump you, them
three cartridges d be wuth no more n
three whoops in he'll. Them animals
is damn hungry, an once they start
in, they'll sure get you, Bill
They camped early that night. Three
dogs could not drag the sled so last
nor for so long hours as could six. and
they were showing unmistakable signs
Of playing out. And the men went
early to bed, Bill first seeing to it that
the dogs were tied out Of gnawing
reach of one another.
But the wolves were growing
bolder, and the men were aroused
more than once from their sleep. So
near did the wolves approach. that
the dogs became frantic with terror,
and IL was necessary to replenish the
fire from time to time in order to
safer distance.
"Ive hearn sailors talk of sharks
followin' a ship" Bill remarked, as
he crawled back into the blankets
after one such replenishing of the
fire. We'll, them wolves is land
sharks. They know their business
better'n we do, an they amt a
holdin' our trail this way for their
health. They're goin' to get US.
They're sure goin' to get US, Henry"
They've half got you Already. a
talkin' like that" Henry retorted
sharply. "A mans half licked when
, he says he is. An you're half eaten
from the way you're goin' on about
it,"
They've got away with better men
than you an me-" Bill answered.
"Oh, shet up your croakin'. You
make me all-fired tired"
Henry rolled over angrily on his
side, but was surprised that Bill made
no similar display of temper. This
was not Bills way. for he was easily
angered by sharp words. Henry
thought long over 1t before he went
to sleep, and as his eyelids huttered
down and he dozed off, the thought
in his mind was: There's no mis-
takin 1T, Bills almighty blue. I'll
| have to cheer him up tomorrow"