The Wrangell sentinel., 1939-03-10
snow
Bronze Statue

Bronze Statue
All, shucksi / think as 1 brush
away the snow and make sure that
there is no snow in the barrel, Now
he will get away sure. However, as
look up again, 1 see that bronze
statue is still standing like a frozen
image. No doubt he thinks he is
completely hidden and he is-al-
most. I realize that all he needs
to do is Just to duck his head and
he will be gone and I am somewhat
surprised that he has waited that
long for I am out in the open in
plain view.
Long practise has often enabled
me to make quick shots, and now,
as my gun hits my shoulder it spits
flame straight at that yellow throat.
At the same instant the wolf
crumples in the snow and lies still. I
take a good look all around hoping
to see another wolf but there is no
visible movement. However, I nave
advanced no more than dozen
steps until there is a flash of grey
as another wolf ducks through the
brush Aw, shucks, if 1 had only
waited a short while longer. I find
my wolf is a tough old fellow and
it takes some time to remove his
pelt.
I circle back and hit the river a
mile or two above where I left the
otter, and once more pick up their
trail only now there are four Of
them. They are cutting across head
ing for another beaver pond. Evil
IDENTIFY, they are quite we'll aware
of all the lakes and ponds that con-
tain trout.
Storm Clouds Gather
In the meanwhile the clouds have
come up and obscured the sun. AL
ready a snow storm has blotted out
the mountain. I can see it moving
downward and the air has taken
on a chill, a kind of warning OF
what is soon to come. I might have
known it, clearing off in the night.
Suddenly I realize that I am a
long ways from camp, night is com
ing on and with it the storm.
Quickly l check my time and lay
my course. I timber up and start
out to do a little real hiking. When
I strike the more open parts with
better going, I jog along at a kind
of dogtrot and the distance slips
away. Yes, l shall reach camp be-
fore dark. 1 always plan on that.
know the rules, know my speed
and I have planned ahead. Hiking,
hiking all day long and I am wish
ing that I had a pot of beans, a
sandwich or something in my peck
ct. Oh, shucksi just think how
good things will taste when once
l do get there. I tighten up my belt
then jump a few logs that persis-
tently get in my way.
Good Reducing Exercise
l think of those with the heavy
waistlines and their fruitless efforts
to reduce and l smile They should
follow on our trail, and yet they
could never make it today, and that
would be rather bad on a January
night like this one that is fast
coming on. I think of the man
found, who was lost. How near all
in he was, how helpless and woe
begone he looked, how cold he was,
how l warmed him up and revived
his spirits, and how we made the
rifle.
think of the time when l frac-
tured my knee, how / kept going
regardless of the pain until I reach
ed camp. How I was then laid up
with it for one solid month and all
alone / think of the little kit that
I always carry-matches, ak and so
on just in case I should have to
camp by the wayside. All this and
much more comes rushing back as
go jogging along. A sudden gust
of wind comes rushing and with it
furry of snow. The air becomes
more dense, the shadows are deep
ening, the forest almost black How
ever, am now travelling over fam
liar ground and camp is near, Soon
after, seven long hours, and yet they
haven't seemed long, / pull up at
the home port-on time. call 1t a
day, and how l do sleep. That rest
lessness has completely vanished and
everything is once more quite nor
NAL