The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-04-16
Chapter H-Continued

something is Killing OH Tile young
beavers" he explained to Nepeese,
speaking to her in French. TT is
lynx or wolf Tomorrow" He
shrugged his thin shoulders, and
smiled at her.
1--WE will 60 on the hunt" laughed
Nepeese happily, in her soft Cree.
When Pierrot smiled at her like
that, and began with tomorrow" it
always meant that she might go with
him on the adventure he was con-
templating.
Still another day later, at the end
of the afternoon, Baree crossed the
Gray Loon on bridge of driftwood
that had wedged between two trees.
Just beyond the driftwood bridge
there was a small open, and on the
edge of this Baree paused to enjoy
the last of the setting sun. AS he
stood motionless and listening, his
tail dropping low, his ears alert, his
sharp-pointed nose shifting the new
country to the north, there was not
pair of eyes in the forest that would
not have taken him for young wolf.
From behind a clump of young bal
sans, hundred yards away, Pierrot
and Nepeese had watched him come
over the driftwood bridge. Now was
the time, and Pierrot leveled his rifle.
It was not until then that Nepeese
touched his arm softly. Her breath
came little excitedly as she whis-
pered:
t'Nootawe, let I'VE shoot. I can kill
him!"
With low chut kle Pierrot gave the
gun to her. He counted the whelp as
already de:d. For Nepeese, at that
distance, could send bullet into an
inch square nine times out Of ten.
And Nepeese, aiming carefully at
Baree. pressed steadily with her brown
forefinger upon the trigger.
AS the Willow pulled the trigger Of
her rifle, Baree sprang into the air.
He felt the force of the bullet before
he heard the report of the gun. 1t
lifted him off his feet, and then sent
him rolling over and over as If he had
been struck hideous blow with a
club. For a flash he did not feel pain.
Then it ran through him like knife
of fire, and with that pain the dog in
him rose above the wolf, and he let
out wild outcry Of puppyish yap-
ping as he rolled and twisted on the
ground.
Pierrot and Nepeese had stepped
from behind the balsams, the Willows
beautiful eyes shining with pride at
the accuracy of her shot. Instantly
she caught her breath. Her brown
fingers clutched at the barrel Of her
rifle. The chuckle of satisfaction died
on Pierrot's lips as Baree's cries of
pain filled the forest.
"Uchi Moosis!" gasped Nepeese, in
her Cree.
Pierrot caught the rifle from her.
"Diable! A dog-a puppy he
cried.
He started on run for Baree. But
in their amazement they had lost a
few seconds and Baree's dazed senses
were returning. He saw them clearly
as they came across the open-a new
kind of monster of the forests! With
final wall he darted back into the
deep shadows of the trees. He had
shivered at sight of the bear and the
moose, but for the first time he now
sensed the real meaning of danger.
And it was close after him. He could
hear the crashing of the two-legged
beasts in pursuit; strange cries were
almost at his heels-and then sud-
denly he plunged without warning
into a hole.
1t was shock to have the earth go
out from under his feet like that. but
Baree did not yelp. The wolf was
dominant in him again. 1t urged him
70 remain where he was. making no
move no sound-scarcely breathing.
The voices were over him. the strange
feet almost stumbled in the hole where
he lay. Looking out of his dark hid
ing place, he could see one of his
enemies. 1t was Nepeese, the Willow.
She was standing so that last glow
OF the day fell upon her face. Baree
did not take his eyes from her. Above
his pain there rose in him strange
and thrilling fascination. The girl
nut her two hands to her mouth and