Spirit Lake . le at which she was workingkept narrowing — and she had scarcely re-strung the net in the water below the ice,before a glassy film closed the opening. Hap-pening to glance around, she beheld, to her 114 SPIRIT LAKE dismay, a great three-legged wolf watchingher. Oh, my brother, she cried, how youfrightened me! Then, bethinking herselfthat she should have concealed her alarm,she went on, — You know, I thought it was At-tick. Hastily she gathered her fish into a bag,threw it upon her back, and, for a moment,stood wondering what she should do. Asshe hesitated, she saw two other wolve
Spirit Lake . le at which she was workingkept narrowing — and she had scarcely re-strung the net in the water below the ice,before a glassy film closed the opening. Hap-pening to glance around, she beheld, to her 114 SPIRIT LAKE dismay, a great three-legged wolf watchingher. Oh, my brother, she cried, how youfrightened me! Then, bethinking herselfthat she should have concealed her alarm,she went on, — You know, I thought it was At-tick. Hastily she gathered her fish into a bag,threw it upon her back, and, for a moment,stood wondering what she should do. Asshe hesitated, she saw two other wolves trotout from the w^oods and join their three-leggedcompanion. Hoping to drive them away, sheadvanced, swishing her ice-chisel in the air,and addressing them in a gentle voice, — Good day, my brave brothers; I do notwant to hurt you, but if you block my way,my father. Standing Wolf, the great hunter,will surely kill you. Instead of retiring, however, as the girlapproached, the three-legged wolf advanced. • Oh, my brother, she cried, how you frightened me! THE SNOW-WETIGO 115 a few paces toward her, halted, and againmoved forward. Mi-na-ce, alarmed, stoodstill. The three-legged wolf began leapingfrom side to side and sniffing the half-filledsnow-shoe prints. With ears thrown backhe glared defiantly, champing his teeth andgrowling. Then he began making himselfbrave — as the Indians call it — by rub-bing his forequarters in the tracks the girlhad made, as though to cover himself withthe scent of his prey. Mi-na-ce, fearing theworst, turned to make her escape. Thethree-legged wolf sprang after her. As hecame on, she struck desperately at , he joined his companions in thedistance and again bolted past her. Againand again he repeated the manoeuvre, andagain and again she struck vainly at the bruteas he went flying by. The viciousness of thewhole pack seemed centred in the three-legged beast, who apparently aspired to the 116 SPIRIT LAKE post of leader. Years
Size: 1273px × 1962px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishernewyorkmacmillan
