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lie and shake and suffer all the slow torture of freezing to death and
shaking to pieces。 For six hours it would keep up； and to the torture；
nausea lent its horrid aid throughout； then about seven or eight o'clock in
the evening a change would come； a burning fever set in； no ice could
have seemed cool to him then； waterwaterwas all he craved； and drank
and drank until three or four in the morning； when the fever would abate；
and a sleep of total exhaustion followed。
〃If you run out of food take the canoe to Ellerton's；〃 was the brother's
last word。 Who was to take the canoe？
There was but half a Chicken now between them and starvation； and
no sign of Corney。
For three interminable weeks the deadly program dragged along。 It
went on the same yet worse； as the sufferers grew weakera few days
more and the Boy also would be unable to leave his couch。 Then what？
Despair was on the house and the silent cry of each was； 〃Oh； God！
will Corney never come？〃
V
THE HOME OF THE BOY
On the day of that last Chicken； Thor was all morning carrying water
enough for the coming three fevers。 The chill attacked him sooner than it
was due and his fever was worse than ever before。
He drank deeply and often from the bucket at his head。 He had filled it；
and it was nearly emptied when about two in the morning the fever left
him and he fell asleep。
In the gray dawn he was awakened by a curious sound not far awaya
splashing of water。 He turned his head to see two glaring eyes within a
foot of his facea great Beast lapping the water in the bucket by his bed。
Thor gazed in horror for a moment； then closed his eyes； sure that he
was dreaming； certain that this was a nightmare of India with a Tiger by
his couch； but the lapping continued。 He looked up； yes； it still was there。
He tried to find his voice but uttered only a gurgle。 The great furry head
quivered； a sniff came from below the shining eyeballs； and the creature；
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whatever it was； dropped to its front feet and went across the hut under the
table。 Thor was fully awake now； he rose slowly on his elbow and feebly
shouted 〃Sssh…hi；〃 at which the shining eyes reappeared under the table
and the gray form came forth。 Calmly it walked across the ground and
glided under the lowest log at a place where an old potato pit left an
opening and disappeared。 What was it？ The sick boy hardly knewsome
savage Beast of prey； undoubtedly。 He was totally unnerved。 He shook
with fear and a sense of helplessness； and the night passed in fitful sleep
and sudden starts awake to search the gloom again for those fearful eyes
and the great gray gliding form。 In the morning he did not know whether it
were not all a delirium； yet he made a feeble effort to close the old cellar
hole with some firewood。
The three had little appetite； but even that they restrained since now
they were down to part of a Chicken； and Corney； evidently he supposed
they had been to Ellerton's and got all the food they needed。
Again that night； when the fever left him weak and dozing； Thor was
awakened by a noise in the room； a sound of crunching bones。 He looked
around to see dimly outlined against the little window； the form of a large
animal on the table。 Thor shouted； he tried to hurl his boot at the intruder。
It leaped lightly to the ground and passed out of the hole； again wide open。
It was no dream this time； he knew； and the women knew it； too； not
only had they heard the creature； but the Chicken； the last of their food；
was wholly gone。
Poor Thor barely left his couch that day。 It needed all the querulous
complaints of the sick women to drive him forth。 Down by the spring he
found a few berries and divided them with the others。 He made his usual
preparations for the chills and the thirst； but he added thisby the side of
his couch he put an old fish…spearthe only weapon he could find； now
the gun was uselessa pine…root candle and some matches。 He knew the
Beast was coming back againwas coming hungry。 It would find no food；
what more natural； he thought； than take the living prey lying there so
helpless？ And a vision came of the limp brown form of the little Fawn；
borne off in those same cruel jaws。
Once again he barricaded the hole with firewood； and the night passed
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as usual； but without any fierce visitor。 Their food that day was flour and
water； and to cook it Thor was forced to use some of his barricade。 Loo
attempted some feeble joke； guessed she was light enough to fly now and
tried to rise； but she got no farther than the edge of the bunk。 The same
preparations were made； and the night wore on； but early in the morning；
Thor was again awakened rudely by the sound of lapping water by his bed；
and there； as before； were the glowing eyeballs； the great head； the gray
form relieved by the dim light from the dawning window。
Thor put all his strength into what was meant for a bold shout； but it
was merely a feeble screech。 He rose slowly and called out： 〃Loo； Margat！
The Lynxhere's the Lynx again！〃
〃May God help ye； for we can't；〃 was the answer。
〃Sssh…hi！〃 Thor tried again to drive the Beast away。 It leaped on to the
table by the window and stood up growling under the useless gun。 Thor
thought it was going to leap through the glass as it faced the window a
moment； but it turned and glared toward the Boy； for he could see both
eyes shining。 He rose slowly to the side of his bunk and he prayed for help；
for he felt it was kill or be killed。 He struck a match and lighted his pine…
root candle； held that in his left hand and in his right took the old fish…
spear； meaning to fight； but he was so weak he had to use the fish…spear as
a crutch。 The great Beast stood on the table still； but was crouching a little
as though for a spring。 Its eyes glowed red in the torchlight。 Its short tail
was switching from side to side and its growling took a higher pitch。
Thor's knees were smiting together； but he levelled the spear and made a
feeble lunge toward the brute。 It sprang at the same moment； not at him； as
he first thoughtthe torch and the boy's bold front had had effectit went
over his head to drop on the ground beyond and at once to slink under the
bunk。
This was only a temporary repulse。 Thor set the torch on a ledge of the
logs； then took the spear in both hands。 He was fighting for his life； and he
knew it。 He heard the voices of the women feebly praying。 He saw only
the glowing eyes under the bed and heard the growling in higher pitch as
the Beast was nearing action。 He steadied himself by a great effort and
plunged the spear with all the force he could give it。
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It struck something softer than the logs： a hideous snarl came forth。
The boy threw all his weight on the weapon； the Beast was struggling to
get at him； he felt its teeth and claws grating on the handle； and in spite of
himself it was coming on； its powerful arms and claws were reaching for
hi