Part 5 (2/2)
”There is only one,” said Ranald in a low voice to Don, but they both knew that where the she-wolf is there is a pack not far off ”And ill be through the bush in five minutes”
”Come, Ranald! Coht, Don” And so saying she headed her pony toward the clearing and was off at a gallop, and Ranald, shaking his head at his friend, ejaculated:
”Man alive! what do you think of that?” and was off after the pony
Together they entered the bush The road ell beaten and the horses were keen to go, so that before h the bush Ranald's spirits rose and he began to take some interest in his cohts and shadows falling across their path
”Look at that very dark shadow fro to a deep, black turn in the road For answer there ca-cry of the wolf He was on their track Immediately it was answered by a chorus of howls from the bush on the swamp side, but still far away There was no need of co forith a snort and the colt followed, and after a few , passed her
”Whow-oo-oo-oo-ow,” rose the long cry of the pursuer, su nearer
”Wh,” came the shorter, sharper answer from the swamp, butto head off their prey
Ranald tugged at his colt till he got hiood road,” he said, quietly; ”you can let the pony go I will follow you” He swung in behind the pony, as now running for dear life and snorting with terror at every jump
”God preserve us!” said Ranald to hih the gleaht in front
”What did you say, Ranald?” The voice was quiet and clear
”It is a great pony to run,” said Ranald, ashalanced over his shoulder Down the road, running with silent, awful swiftness, he saw the long, low body of the leading wolf flashi+ng through the bars ofhard
”Let her go, Mrs Murray,” cried Ranald ”Whip her and never stop” But there was no need; the pony ith fear, and was doing her best running
Ranaldin the colt, and the pony dreay rapidly But as rapidly the wolves were closing in behind hi every second
Ranald, re the suspicious nature of the brutes, loosened his coat and dropped it on the road; with a chorus of yelps they paused, then threw themselves upon it, and in anotherwas in sight The pony was far ahead, and Ranald shook out his colt with a yell He was none too soon, for the pursuing pack, now uttering short, shrill yelps, were close at the colt's heels
Lizette, fleet as the wind, could not shake the Ranald could see them over his shoulder A hundred yards more and he would reach his own back lane The leader of the pack see swiftly away With a spurt he gained upon Lizette, reached the saddle-girths, gathered hi for the colt's throat
Instinctively Ranald stood up in his stirrups, and kicking his foot free, caught the wolf under the jaw The brute fell with a howl under the colt's feet, and next e brutes, discouraged by their leader's fall, slowed down their fierce pursuit, and hearing the deep bay of the Macdonalds' great deer-hound, Bugle, up at the house, they paused, sniffed the air a few minutes, then turned and swiftly and silently slid into the dark shadows Ranald, knowing that they would hardly dare enter the lane, checked the colt, and wheeling, watched them disappear
”I'll have so his fist after them He hated to be made to run
He had hardly set the colt's face ho down the lane tohis ears, stood still It was Bugle, and after him came Mrs
Murray on the pony
”Oh, Ranald!” she panted, ”thank God you are safe I was afraid you--you--” Her voice broke in sobs Her hood had fallen back fro like two stars She laid her hand on Ranald's arrew steady as she said: ”Thank God, my boy, and thank you with all my heart You risked your life for et this!”
”Oh, pshaw!” said Ranald, aardly ”You are better stuff than I am