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WflsitiatG'OSS 

 JnffleSnoir 



v^.*. 



" But I was 'fraid out there, little sister," 

 confessed Noel bravely. " Here we can climb 

 tree ; good chance shoot um with my arrows." 



Like two frightened rabbits they crouched 

 under the fir, staring back with wild round 

 eyes over the trail, fearing every instant to 

 see the savage pack break out of the woods 

 and come howling after them. But only the 

 single big wolf appeared, trotting quietly 

 along in their footsteps. Within bowshot he 

 stopped with head raised, looking, listening 

 intently. Then, as if he had seen them in 

 their hiding, he turned aside, circled widely 

 to the left, and entered the woods far below. 



Again the two little hunters hurried on 

 through the silent, snow-filled woods, a 

 strange disquietude settling upon them as 

 they felt they were followed by unseen feet. 

 Soon the feeling grew too strong to resist. 

 Noel with his bow ready, and a strange chill 

 y T^l trickling like cold water along his spine, was 

 hiding behind a tree watching the back trail, 

 when a low exclamation from Mooka made 



im turn. There behind them, not ten steps 



away, a huge white wolf was sitting quietly 



