t THE TRAIL OF THE SANDHILL STAG 



Another lengthy crawl, with nerves 

 at tense, and then the lad thought 

 he heard a twig snapped behind him, 

 though the track was still ahead* 

 And after long he found it true* 

 Before lying down the Stag had 

 doubled back, and while Yan had 

 thought him still ahead, he was ly- 

 ing far behind, so had gotten wind 

 of the man and now was miles 

 away* 



Once more into the unknown 

 north away, till cold, black night 

 came down ; then Yan sought out a 

 sheltered spot and made a tiny, red- 

 man's fire* As Chaska had taught 

 him long ago ' Big fire for fool/ 



When the lad curled up to sleep 



he felt a vague wish to turn three 

 72 



