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It came on the cold wind； the same haunting mourn； dreadful in its significance。
Absence of fire inspirited the wary wolves。 Out of the pale gloom gaunt white forms emerged； agile and stealthy； slipping on velvet…padded feet； closer； closer； closer。 The dogs wailed in terror。
〃Into the tepee！〃 yelled Rea。
Jones plunged in after his comrade。 The despairing howls of the dogs； drowned in more savage； frightful sounds； knelled one tragedy and foreboded a more terrible one。 Jones looked out to see a white mass； like leaping waves of a rapid。
〃Pump lead into thet！〃 cried Rea。
Rapidly Jones emptied his rifle into the white fray。 The mass split； gaunt wolves leaped high to fall back dead； others wriggled and limped away； others dragged their hind quarters； others darted at the tepee。
〃No more cartridges！〃 yelled Jones。
The giant grabbed the ax； and barred the door of the tepee。 Crash！ the heavy iron cleaved the skull of the first brute。 Crash！ it lamed the second。 Then Rea stood in the narrow passage between the rocks； waiting with uplifted ax。 A shaggy； white demon； snapping his jaws； sprang like a dog。 A sodden； thudding blow met him and he slunk away without a cry。 Another rabid beast launched his white body at the giant。 Like a flash the ax descended。 In agony the wolf fell； to spin round and round； running on his hind legs； while his head and shoulders and forelegs remained in the snow。 His back was broken。
Jones crouched in the opening of the tepee； knife in hand。 He doubted his senses。 This was a nightmare。 He saw two wolves leap at once。 He heard the crash of the ax； he saw one wolf go down and the other slip under the swinging weapon to grasp the giant's hip。 Jones's heard the rend of cloth； and then he pounced like a cat； to drive his knife into the body of the beast。 Another nimble foe lunged at Rea； to sprawl broken and limp from the iron。 It was a silent fight。 The giant shut the way to his comrade and the calves； he made no outcry； he needed but one blow for every beast； magnificent； he wielded death and faced itsilent。 He brought the white wild dogs of the north down with lightning blows； and when no more sprang to the attack； down on the frigid silence he rolled his cry： 〃Ho！ Ho！〃
〃Rea！ Rea！ how is it with you？〃 called Jones； climbing out。
〃A torn coatno more； my lad。〃
Three of the poor dogs were dead； the fourth and last gasped at the hunters and died。
The wintry night became a thing of half…conscious past； a dream to the hunters； manifesting its reality only by the stark； stiff bodies of wolves； white in the gray morning。
〃If we can eat； we'll make the cabin；〃 said Rea。 〃But the dogs an' wolves are poison。〃
〃Shall I kill a calf？ 〃Asked Jones。
〃Ho！ Ho！ when hell freezes overif we must！〃
Jones found one 45…90 cartridge in all the outfit； and with that in the chamber of his rifle； once more struck south。 Spruce trees began to show on the barrens and caribou trails roused hope in the hearts of the hunters。
〃Look in the spruces；〃 whispered Jones； dropping the rope of his sled。 Among the black trees gray objects moved。
〃Caribou！〃 said Rea。 〃Hurry！ Shoot！ Don't miss！〃
But Jones waited。 He knew the value of the last bullet。 He had a hunter's patience。 When the caribou came out in an open space； Jones whistled。 It was then the rifle grew set and fixed； it was then the red fire belched forth。
At four hundred yards the bullet took some fraction of time to strike。 What a long time that was！ Then both hunters heard the spiteful spat of the lead。 The caribou fell； jumped up； ran down the slope； and fell again to rise no more。
An hour of rest； with fire and meat； changed the world to the hunters； still glistening； it yet had lost its bitter cold its deathlike clutch。
〃What's this？〃 cried Jones。
Moccasin tracks of different sizes； all toeing north； arrested the hunters。
〃Pointed north！ Wonder what thet means？〃 Rea plodded on； doubtfully shaking his head。
Night again； clear； cold； silver； starlit； silent night！ The hunters rested； listening ever for the haunting mourn。 Day again； white； passionless； monotonous； silent day。 The hunters traveled ononon； ever listening for the haunting mourn。
Another dusk found them within thirty miles of their cabin。 Only one more day now。
Rea talked of his furs； of the splendid white furs he could not bring。 Jones talked of his little muskoxen calves and joyfully watched them dig for moss in the snow。
Vigilance relaxed that night。 Outworn nature rebelled； and both hunters slept。
Rea awoke first； and kicking off the blankets； went out。 His terrible roar of rage made Jones fly to his side。
Under the very shadow of the tepee； where the little musk…oxen had been tethered； they lay stretched out pathetically on crimson snowstiff stone…cold； dead。 Moccasin tracks told the story of the tragedy。
Jones leaned against his comrade。
The giant raised his huge fist。
〃Jackoway out of wood！ Jackoway out of wood！〃
Then he choked。
The north wind； blowing through the thin； dark； weird spruce trees； moaned and seemed to sigh； 〃Naza！ Naza！ Naza！〃
CHAPTER 11。 ON TO THE SIWASH
〃Who all was doin' the talkin' last night？〃 asked Frank next morning； when we were having a late breakfast。 〃Cause I've a joke on somebody。 Jim he talks in his sleep often； an' last night after you did finally get settled down； Jim he up in his sleep an' says： 'Shore he's windy as hell！ Shore he's windy as hell'！〃
At this cruel exposure of his subjective wanderings； Jim showed extreme humiliation； but Frank's eyes fairly snapped with the fun he got out of telling it。 The genial foreman loved a joke。 The week's stay at Oak； in which we all became thoroughly acquainted； had presented Jim as always the same quiet character； easy； slow； silent； lovable。 In his brother cowboy； however； we had discovered in addition to his fine； frank； friendly spirit； an overwhelming fondness for playing tricks。 This boyish mischievousness； distinctly Arizonian； reached its acme whenever it tended in the direction of our serious leader。
Lawson had been dispatched on some mysterious errand about which my curiosity was all in vain。 The order of the day was leisurely to get in readiness； and pack for our journey to the Siwash on the morrow。 I watered my horse； played with the hounds； knocked about the cliffs； returned to the cabin； and lay down on my bed。 Jim's hands were white with flour。 He was kneading dough； and had several low； flat pans on the table。 Wallace and Jones strolled in； and later Frank； and they all took various positions before the fire。 I saw Frank； with the quickness of a sleight…of…hand performer； slip one of the pans of dough on the chair Jones had placed by the table。 Jim did not see the action； Jones's and Wallace's backs were turned to Frank； and he did not know I was in the cabin。 The conversation continued on the subject of Jones's big bay horse； which； hobbles and all； had gotten ten miles from camp the night before。
〃Better count his ribs than his tracks；〃 said Frank； and went on talking as easily and naturally as if he had not been expecting a very entertaining situation。
But no one could ever foretell Colonel Jones's actions。 He showed every intention of seating himself in the chair； then walked over to his pack to begin searching for something or other。 Wallace； however； promptly took the seat； and what began to be funnier than strange； he did not get up。 Not unlikely this circumstance was owing to the fact that several of the rude chairs had soft layers of old blanket tacked on them。 Whatever were Frank's internal emotions； he presented a remarkably placid and commonplace exterior； but when Jim began to search for the missing pan of dough； the joker slowly sagged in his chair。
〃Shore that beats hell！〃 said Jim。 〃I had three pans of dough。 Could the pup have taken one？〃
Wallace rose to his feet； and the bread pan clattered to the floor； with a clang and a clank； evidently protesting against the indignity it had suffered。 But the dough stayed with Wallace； a great white conspicuous splotch on his corduroys。 Jim； Frank and Jones all saw it at once。
〃WhyMr。 Wallaceyou setin the dough！〃 exclaimed Frank； in a queer； stran