Hidden Creek

again, but the snow that had poured itself down so steadily in that October storm did not give way. It sank a trifle at noon and covered itself at night with a glare of ice. It was i

nter jaws had snapped them in, setting its teeth between them and all other life, Miss Blake had subtly and gradually changed. It was as though her stature had increased, her color deepened. Sometimes to Sheila that square, strong body

irds, yet they saw nothing living. "What's got the elk and moose this season?" muttered Miss Blake. Nothing stirred except the soft plop of shaken snow or the little flurry of drifting flakes. These frost-flakes lay two inches deep on the surface of the snow, dry and distinct all day in the cold so that they could be blown apart at a breath. Miss Blake was cheerful on this journey. She sang songs, she told brief stories of other sled trips. At the post-office an old, lonely man delivered them some parcels and a vast bagful of magazines. There was a brief passage of arms between him and Miss Blake. S

in her steps Sheila plodded home in silence. That evening Miss Blake laid hands on her.... They had washed up their dishes. Sheila was putting a log on the fire. It rolled out of her grasp to the bearskin rug and struck Miss Blake's foot. Before Sheila could ev

how dare yo

k the log, turned a

silly! What's to

depressed Sheila's heart, but she ke

y here with you one hour,

trying to make light of her outbreak. "Scared you, didn't

dog," said S

ine. She put the spectacles on her nose with shaking hands. "You're my gir

now what you mean, Miss Blake, by my being your girl. I work for you, to be sur

g across the other and

gize t

allow nobody

arines! You've never been touc

rched Sheila's mouth an

at fire consume her,

gize," said Sheila again, thi

, wait. That'l

beating of her heart. A log in the

iful young quaver in her voice, "if you

think I've come 'way out here to the wilderness for, if not because I can't stand anything less than being master? Here I've got my place and my dogs and a world that don't talk back. And now I've got you for company and to do my work. You've got to fall into line, Sheila, right in the ranks. Once, some one out there in the world"-she made a gesture, dropped her chin on her big chest, and looked out under her short, dense, rust-colored eyelashes-"tried to break me. I won't tell you what he got. That's where I quit the ways of women-yes, ma'am, a

sed her hands flat together, palm to palm between her knees, and stared

at this withdrawal. She came back to

m snappy," she said p

horse-you know-the coyotes got him. I guess he went down and they fell upo

do you

for dog-feed. Well, Sheila, when they're fed, they're dogs. But when they're starved-they're wolve

and went out for all day long into the cold. Each time she came back more exhausted

th bloody jaws. But the prey must have been small, for they were not satisfied. They grew more and more gaunt and wolfish. They would howl for hours,

Blake, "we got to

o the post-office or to Rus

, Sheila! And we can't make it on foot. We'd drop in our tracks and freeze. If i

the wolfishness grow in their deep, wild eyes. She would try to talk to them, pat them, coax them into doggy-ness. But day by day they responded more unwillingly. All but Berg: Berg stayed

r done in the summer days. The dread of physical violence hung on her brain like a cloud. She encouraged Berg's affection, and

short bark of welcome. Outside the other dogs broke into their clamor, drowning all other sound, and in the midst of it the door flew rudely open. Miss

're

a, to her chair and sat there while the girl gave her some brandy, remove

I reckon, I couldn't have stood much more." She clenched her hand in Berg's mane. "God! Those dogs! I'll have to

e mother. They were the cutest little fellows. I remember when Wreck got porcupine quills in his nose and came to me and lay on his back and whined to me. It was as if he said, 'Help me, momma.' Sure it was. And he pretty near died. Oh, damn! If I have to shoot 'em I might just as well shoot my

came, Berg pulled himself away from his m

Berg hesitated, cuddled close to

Berg did not cringe or hasten. He reached Miss Blake's

e whip from its nail. At that Berg cringed and whined. The woman fell upon him with her terrible lash. She held herself with one hand o

! You're killing him!" She ran

reathing fast. Sweat of pain and rage and exerti

and at that, with a snarl, Berg c

t him. Suddenly she gave in. Pa

" she choked, and fell heavily

the corner of the living-room, and for a week she was kept there with fever and much pain. Berg l