Evening star., 1924-08-24
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr


how. AS he had howled in his puppy
days when he fed back from the wild
to the village to find it vanished and
naught but rubbish heap to mark
the site of Gary Beavers tepee, so
now he pointed his muzzle to the cold
stars and told to them his woe.
Inside the cabin the two men had
just gone to bed
Hes gone off his food again." Matt
remarked from his bunk.
There was a grunt from Weldon
ScottS bunk and a stir of blank cts
From the way he cut up the other
time you went away l wouldn't Won
der this time but what he died
The blankets in the other bunk
stirred irritably.
"Oh. shut up!' Scott cried out
through the darkness. You nag
worse than woman"
I'm aEreein with you," the dog
muSher answered, and Weldon Scott
was not quite sure whether or not
the other had snickered.
The next day White Fang's anxiety
and restlessness were even more pro-
nounced He dogged his MASTER
heels whenever he left the cabin and
haunted the front stoop when he
remained inside. Through the open
door he could catch glimpscS of the
luggage on the floor. The grip had
been joined by two large canvas bags
and a box. Matt was rolling the mas
ter's blankets and fur robe inside a
small tarpaulin. White Fang whined
as he watched the operation.
Later on two Indians arrived. He
watched them closely as they Shoul-
dered the luggage and were led off
down the hill by Matt, who carried
the bedding and the grip. But White
Fang did not follow them. The mas
II n
time Matt returned. The master came
TO the door and called White Fang
inside.
You poor devil" he said gently,
rubbing White Fang's ears and tap
ping his spines. I'm hitting the long
trail, old man, where you cannot fol-
low Now give me a srowl-the last,
good. goodbye growl."
But White Fang refused to growl
Instead, and after a wistful, search
ing look. he Snuggled in, burrowing
his head out of sight between the
masters arm and body.
There she blows" Matt cried.
From the Yukon arose the hoarse bel
lowing of a river steamboat. You've
got to cut it short. Be sure and lock
the front door. I'll go out the back.
Get a move on
The two doors slammed at the same
moment, and Weedon Scott waited
for Matt to come around to the front
From inside the door came a low
whining and sobbing. Then there
were long, deep-drawn shifts.
You must take good care of him
Matt" Scott said, as they started
down the hill. Write and let me
know how he gets along"
Sure" the dog-musher answered.
But listen to that, will you"
Both men stopped. White Fang was
bowling as dogs howl when their
masters lie dead. He was voicins an
utter woe, his cry bursting upward IN
great, heart breaking rushes, dying
down into quavering misery, and
bursting upward again with rush
upon rush of grief.
The Aurora was the first teamboat
of the year for the Outside, and her
decks were jammed with prosperous
adventurers and broken gold seekers,
all equally as mad to get to the out
side as they had been originally to
get to the Inside. Near the gangplank,
Scott was shaking hands with Matt,
who was preparing to go ashore. But
Matts hand went limp in the others
grasp as his gaze shot past and re-
mained fixed on something behlnd
him Scott turned TO see. Sitting on
the deck several feet away and
watching wiStfully was White Fang
Inc QOS -IuubSlleT VIC SNL-AJ -
awe-Stricken accents, Scott could
only look in wonder.
Did you lock the front door?' Matt
demanded.
The other nodded, and asked, How
about the back?"
You just bet 1 did," was the fer
vent reply.
White Fang f1attened his ears in
gratiatingly, but remained where ne
was, making no attempt to approach.
I'll have to take m ashore with
me-"
Matt made a couple of steps toward
White Fang, but the latter slid away
from him. The dog musher made a
rush of it, and White Fang lodged
between the legs of group of men:
Ducking, turning, doubling, he slid
about the deck, eluding the other
efforts to capture him.
But when the loye-maSter spoke
White Fang came to him with prompt
obedience.
Wont come to the hand that's fed
IN all these months" the dog -musher
muttered resentfully. And you-you
amt never fed IN after them first
days of gettin' acquainted. I'm
blamed if I can see how he works 1t
out that you're the boss"
Scott, who had been patting White
Fang, suddenly bent closer and point
ed out fresh-made cuts on his muzzle
and cash between the eyes.
Matt bent over and passed his hand
along White Fang's belly.
I'VE plumb forgot the window.
He's all cut an gouged underneath.
Must "a butted clean through it,
b'gosh."
But Weldon Scott was not listen
ing. He was thinking rapidly. The
Auroras whistle hooted final an
nouncement of departure. Men were
scurrying down the gangplank to the
shore Matt loosened the bandana
from his own neck and started to put
1t around White Fang's. Scott grasped
the dog musher's hand.
Good bye, Matt, old man. About
the wolf-you needn't write. You
see, Tve-."
What" the dogmusher exploded
''You don't mean to say-
1.-The very thing l mean. Here S
your bandana. III write to you about
him"
Matt paused halfway down the
gangplank.
Hell never stand the climate" he
shouted back. Unless you clip m IN
warm weather"
The gangplank was hauled III ana
the Aurora swung out from the BANK
Weldon Scott waved a lost goodbye
Then he turned and bent over White
Fang, standing by his side.
Now growl, damn you, growl, he
said, as he patted the responsive head
and rubbed the flattening ears.
CHAPTER II.
The Southland.
White Fang landed from the steam
er in San Francisco. He was ap-
y; Lola