Spirit Lake . ass under. This was a signal tothe boys that danger was at hand, and forthem to move forward warily and with theirguns in readiness. 214 SPIRIT LAKE His advance became momentarily was more than an hour before he detectedthe glare of firelight ahead. He left thetrail, and keeping to the lee of the fire, lestthe dogs should scent him, stealthily ap-proached. The first glimpse of the dyingfire showed him that all was still. Thehalf-breed lay wrapped in his hare-skinrobe upon a mattress of balsam brush. Inthe shelter of the undergrowth the dogs werecurled in the snow, shive
Spirit Lake . ass under. This was a signal tothe boys that danger was at hand, and forthem to move forward warily and with theirguns in readiness. 214 SPIRIT LAKE His advance became momentarily was more than an hour before he detectedthe glare of firelight ahead. He left thetrail, and keeping to the lee of the fire, lestthe dogs should scent him, stealthily ap-proached. The first glimpse of the dyingfire showed him that all was still. Thehalf-breed lay wrapped in his hare-skinrobe upon a mattress of balsam brush. Inthe shelter of the undergrowth the dogs werecurled in the snow, shivering still, thoughsound asleep. Priming his gun afresh, Standing Wolfcocked it, and silently stepping within theglare of the firelight called upon Gibeaultto surrender. The startled half-breed sprangto his feet, seized his axe, and struck wildlyat the Indian, who, in the very act of firing,leaped aside to save himself and so missedhis shot. Again the half-breed swung hisaxe, and again Standing Wolf escaped the. The startled half-breed struck wildly at the Indian. THE DANCE OF THE DEAD MEN 215 blow. Then, seeing his chance, he struckGibeault with the butt of his gun and knockedhim down. As he strove to rise, StandingWolf dealt him a blow that stretched himmotionless on the snow. Stooping down,he felt the heart of the unconscious half-breed. He was not dead. As StandingWolf reloaded his gun, he pondered whetherhe should kill the thief or hand him over tothe Mounted Police. Unable to decide, hebound him hand and foot, dragged him backupon the brush and covered him with hisrobe. Drawing the sleds nearer to the fire, hesearched their loads and found the silver-fox skin in Gibeaults dunnage bag. Thesight increased his thirst for revenge. A gustof wind blew the coals into feeble life againand reminded him that the fire was rose and chopped wood enough to lastall the night through. Then he sat down to 216 SPIRIT LAKE smoke and reflect upon the course he shouldpursue. The growH
Size: 1281px × 1950px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishernewyorkmacmillan
