They sounded louder and nearer now, and Stella's heart began to beat
rapidly with fear.
Too well she knew what would happen if they caught her.
But suddenly a thought came to her, and she stopped.
Surely Ted and the boys would come to find her. They might even now be
on the way, and who could say they were not far away?
If she could only send them a message to let them know that they were on
the right trail!
Her face lighted up with an inspiration. She had the means.
Breaking a stick from a low-growing tree, she began to write in the
snow:
"I am followed by a wolf pack. Hurry." "Stella"
These were the words she left behind her for Ted to read should he come
that way.
Then she hurried on with all speed.
Every few minutes the howls of the wolves assailed her ears as she
struggled on through the snow.
Her burden of food was becoming very heavy, and she cast away a part of
it.
Perhaps, she thought, it would serve to stop the wolves for a while when
they found it on her trail.
Every moment seemed to bring the cries of the wolves nearer.
They were following in her footsteps now, for the noise was all behind
her, not scattered over the forest, as it had been at first.
The brutes had gathered into a pack, and Stella shuddered as she
pictured in her mind the gray band coming upon her with long, loping,
tireless strides; with red, long, lolling tongues and slavering,
sharp-fanged jaws.
Pages:
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122