CHAPTER IV
THE RIDE FOR LIFE
The night was clear, with a touch of frost in the air, yet with thefeeling in it of approaching spring. A dim light fell over the forestfrom the half-moon and the stars, and seemed to fill up the littleclearing in which the manse stood, with a weird and mysterious radiance.Far away in the forest the long-drawn howl of a wolf rose and fell, andin a moment sharp and clear came an answer from the bush just at hand.Mrs. Murray dreaded the wolves, but she was no coward and scorned toshow fear.
"The wolves are out, Ranald," she said, carelessly, as Ranald came upwith the pony.
"They are not many, I think," answered the boy as carelessly; "but--areyou--do you think--perhaps I could just take the medicine--and you willcome--"
"Nonsense, Ranald! bring up the pony. Do you think I have lived all thistime in Indian Lands to be afraid of a wolf?"
"Indeed, you are not afraid, I know that well!" Ranald shrank fromlaying the crime of being afraid at the door of the minister's wife,whose fearlessness was proverbial in the community; "but maybe--" Thetruth was, Ranald would rather be alone if the wolves came out.
But Mrs. Murray was in the saddle, and the pony was impatient to be off.
"We will go by the Camerons' clearing, and then take their wood track.It is a better road," said Ranald, after they had got through the biggate.
"Now, Ranald, you think I am afraid of the swamp, and by the Camerons'is much longer."
"Indeed, I hear them say that you are not afraid of the--of anything,"said Ranald, quickly, "but this road is better for the horses."
"Come on, then, with your colt"; and the pony darted away on herquick-springing gallop, followed by the colt going with a long, easy,loping stride. For a mile they kept side by side till they reached theCamerons' lane, when Ranald held in the colt and allowed the pony tolead. As they passed through the Camerons' yard the big black dogs,famous bear-hunters, came baying at them. The pony regarded them withindifference, but the colt shied and plunged.
"Whoa, Liz!" Liz was Ranald's contraction for Lizette, the name of theFrench horse-trainer and breeder, Jules La Rocque, gave to her mother,who in her day was queen of the ice at L'Original Christmas races.
"Be quate, Nigger, will you!" The dogs, who knew Ranald well, ceasedtheir clamor, but not before the kitchen door opened and Don Cameroncame out.
Don was about a year older than Ranald and was his friend and comrade.
"It's me, Don--and Mrs. Murray there."
Don gazed speechless.
"And what--" he began.
"Father is not well. He is hurted, and Mrs. Murray is going to see him,and we must go."
Ranald hurried through his story, impatient to get on.
"But are you going up through the bush?" asked Don.
"Yes, what else, Don?" asked Mrs. Murray. "It is a good road, isn't it?"
"Oh, yes, I suppose it is good enough," said Don, doubtfully, "but Iheard--"
"We will come out at our own clearing at the back, you know," Ranaldhurried to say, giving Don a kick. "Whist, man! She is set upon going."At that moment away off toward the swamp, which they were avoiding, thelong, heart-chilling cry of a mother wolf quavered on the still nightair. In spite of herself, Mrs. Murray shivered, and the boys looked ateach other.
"There is only one," said Ranald in a low voice to Don, but they bothknew that where the she wolf is there is a pack not far off. "And wewill be through the bush in five minutes."
"Come, Ranald! Come away, you can talk to Don any time. Good night,Don." And so saying she headed her pony toward the clearing and was offat 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 was well beaten and the horseswere keen to go, so that before many minutes were over they were halfthrough the bush. Ranald's spirits rose and he began to take someinterest in his companion's observations upon the beauty of the lightsand shadows falling across their path.
"Look at that very dark shadow from the spruce there, Ranald," shecried, pointing to a deep, black turn in the road. For answer there camefrom behind them the long, mournful hunting-cry of the wolf. He was ontheir track. Immediately it was answered by a chorus of howls fromthe bush on the swamp side, but still far away. There was no need ofcommand; the pony sprang forward with a snort and the colt followed, andafter a few minutes' running, passed her.
"Whow-oo-oo-oo-ow" rose the long cry of the pursuer, summoning help, anddrawing nearer.
"Wow-ee-wow," came the shorter, sharper answer from the swamp, but muchnearer than before and more in front. They were trying to head off theirprey.
Ranald tugged at his colt till he got him back with the pony.
"It is a good road," he said, quietly; "you can let the pony go. I willfollow you." He swung in behind the pony, who was now running for dearlife and snorting with terror at every jump.
"God preserve us!" said Ranald to himself. He had caught sight of a darkform as it darted through the gleam of light in front.
"What did you say, Ranald?" The voice was quiet and clear.
"It is a great pony to run whatever," said Ranald, ashamed of himself.
"Is she not?"
Ranald glanced over his shoulder. Down the road, running with silent,awful swiftness, he saw the long, low body of the leading wolf flashingthrough the bars of moonlight across the road, and the pack followinghard.
"Let her go, Mrs. Murray," cried Ranald. "Whip her and never stop." Butthere was no need; the pony was wild with fear, and was doing her bestrunning.
Ranald meantime was gradually holding in the colt, and the pony drewaway rapidly. But as rapidly the wolves were closing in behind him.They were not more than a hundred yards away, and gaining every second.Ranald, remembering the suspicious nature of the brutes, loosened hiscoat and dropped it on the road; with a chorus of yelps they paused,then threw themselves upon it, and in another minute took up the chase.
But now the clearing was in sight. The pony was far ahead, and Ranaldshook out his colt with a yell. He was none too soon, for the pursuingpack, now uttering short, shrill yelps, were close at the colt's heels.Lizette, fleet as the wind, could not shake them off. Closer and evercloser they came, snapping and snarling. Ranald could see them over hisshoulder. A hundred yards more and he would reach his own back lane. Theleader of the pack seemed to feel that his chances were slipping swiftlyaway. With a spurt he gained upon Lizette, reached the saddle-girths,gathered himself in two short jumps, and sprang for the colt's throat.Instinctively Ranald stood up in his stirrups, and kicking his footfree, caught the wolf under the jaw. The brute fell with a howl underthe colt's feet, and next moment they were in the lane and safe.
The savage brutes, discouraged by their leader's fall, slowed downtheir fierce pursuit, and hearing the deep bay of the Macdonalds' greatdeerhound, Bugle, up at the house, they paused, sniffed the air afew minutes, then turned and swiftly and silently slid into the darkshadows. Ranald, knowing that they would hardly dare enter the lane,checked the colt, and wheeling, watched them disappear.
"I'll have some of your hides some day," he cried, shaking his fistafter them. He hated to be made to run.
He had hardly set the colt's face homeward when he heard somethingtearing down the lane to meet him. The colt snorted, swerved, and thendropping his 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 afraidyou--you--" Her voice broke in sobs. Her hood had fallen back from herwhite face, and her eyes were shining like two stars. She laid her handon Ranald's arm, and her voice grew steady as she said: "Thank God, myboy, and thank you with all my heart. You risked your life for mine. Youare a brave fellow! I can never forget this!"
"Oh, pshaw!" said Ranald, awkwardly. "You are better stuff than I am.You came back with Bugle. And I knew Liz could beat the pony whatever."Then they walked their h
orses quietly to the stable, and nothing morewas said by either of them; but from that hour Ranald had a friend readyto offer life for him, though he did not know it then nor till yearsafterward.