Little Bull of the Barrens 



THROUGH the thick drive of the snow- 

 flakes small, hard, bitter flakes, 

 borne on the long wind of the terrible Copper- 

 mine barrens the man and the beast stood 

 staring at each other, motionless. In the 

 beast's eyes was a heavy wonder, mixed 

 with curiosity and dread. Never before had 

 he seen any being like this erect slim shape, 

 veiled and vague and dark in the whirling 

 drift. He felt it to be dangerous, but he 

 was loath to tear himself away from the 

 scrutiny of it. 



The man, on the other hand, had neither 

 wonder, curiosity, nor dread in his gaze. He 

 knew that the black and massive apparition 

 before him was a musk-ox. His first impulse 

 had been to snatch up his rifle and shoot, 

 before the beast could fade off into the white 

 confusion of the storm. But his practised 



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