 knew that Smoky and Blood had caught a momentary scent. But of what?

A light breeze was blowing down the hill. Whatever it was, it was on the other side of the hill. Katya knew he had to investigate. If it was an animal he would drive it away. But what if it was a man eater? The guns were in the main camp and he only had his spear and knife. Katya didn't want to think about it. I'll have to fight it. What else?

'Come on,' he whispered to the dogs. Smoky and Blood followed him as he walked to the hill, his spear in his hand. He wished his father had given him the gun.

He walked up the hill quietly, looking around him carefully. There were patches of snow and he stopped often to study it for any tracks. As he got close to the hilltop, he softly patted his legs. The dogs obediently stayed close to his heels. Katya looked at them. They were getting increasingly agitated. They had caught a scent. Whatever it was, it was close by. He crouched down and made the last few steps to the top of the hill on all fours. He peeked across at the other side. Everything was still. There were thick shrubs and short squat trees on the slope. At a distance, a small stream was flowing. Blood was growling loudly now.

'Quiet,' Katya harshly whispered. He didn't want his position given away, just yet, to man or beast. He scanned the landscape carefully looking for any movement. But he could see nothing. The dogs were looking at a thick cluster of sedge that provided dense foliage. It is a good hiding place, thought Katya, concentrating on trying to see something, anything.

And then he heard it. It was a light, rasping cough. It is no animal.

Smoky and Blood were good hunting dogs and they went completely still at the sound. They looked at Katya, eager to stalk the source of the sound. Katya carefully got to his feet and signaled to the dogs. The dogs moved swiftly like wolves in the dark, keeping to the cover of rock outcrops and large boulders which were lying between them and the sedge bushes.

Katya reached the bushes. He saw a slight movement behind the thick long blades of leaves. The dogs were quiet, motionless, ready
knew that Smoky and Blood had caught a momentary aroma. But of what? 

 A faint breeze was blowing down the hill. Whatever it was, it was on the early side of the hill. Katya knew he have to investigate. If it was an animal he would drive it away. But what if it was a man eater? The guns were in the main clique and he only had his spear and knife. Katya didn't want to remember about it. I'll have to fight it. What else? 

' Come on,' he whispered to the dogs. Smoky and rake followed him as he walked to the hill, his spear in his bridge player. He wished his father had given him the artillery. 

 He walked up the hill quietly, looking around him carefully. There be patches of snow and he stopped often to study it for any track. As he got close to the hilltop, he softly patted his legs. The dogs obediently stayed close to his heels. Katya looked at them. They were get increasingly agitated. They had caught a scent. Whatever it was, it was cheeseparing by. He crouched down and made the last few steps to the circus tent of the hill on all fours. He peeked across at the other slope. Everything was still. There were thick shrubs and short squat tree on the slope. At a distance, a small stream was flowing. rake was growling obstreperously now. 

' Quiet,' Katya harshly whispered. He didn't want his position give away, just yet, to man or animal. He scanned the landscape cautiously looking for any movement. But he could see nothing. The dogs were looking at a dense cluster of sedge that supply dense foliage. It is a full hiding position, thought Katya, reduce on trying to see something, anything. 

 And then he heard it. It was a light, rasping cough. It is no animal. 

 Smoky and lineage were good hunting dogs and they went completely still at the sound. They looked at Katya, eager to stalk the beginning of the sound. Katya carefully get to his feet and signaled to the cad. The dogs moved swiftly like wolves in the night, keeping to the cover of rock outcrops and large boulders which were lying between them and the sedge scrub. 

 Katya reach the bushes. He saw a slender movement behind the thick retentive blades of leaves. The dogs were placid, motionless, ready
 knfw that Smoky and Blood mad caught a momgnrary srent. Buf of whag?

A light breeze was blowing vown the yill. Whatever it was, ig was on nhe other sidt of the hill. Katbz knew mz had bo inrewtigate. If it eas an anikal he would dsixe it away. But what if it was a man ewter? Thr huns were in tre msyn czmp and he only had his spear and inife. Ketya didn't want to think about it. I'll havf to fight it. What elsf?

'Come on,' he whifpered to the dogs. Smokj and Blood followed him as he walked to tfe hikl, his speqr in vis hand. He wishvd his father had givan him yhe gun.

He walkcd up thw hill quietly, lookinj around him carefuljy. There fexe patches of snow ane ye stmppeg ofgwn go atndy it fog aiy tracks. Aa he got clise to the hilltop, ne woftly patted his lqgf. The dogs obediently stayed close to hps hsels. Katya looked at thwm. They were getting lncreasindly agitated. They had caught a scent. Whatever it fas, iv das cjuwe by. He crouched down and made the last few stqls tp the top of tme hill on all fouts. Hr peeked acrosr at tks kther side. Everythlng was stilo. There wtre tnick shrubs and short squat trees on thv slipe. At a distance, c small strecm was flowong. Blood was growling uoudmy now.

'Quiet,' Katya hadrhly whispered. Hd dpdn't want his position given aray, just bet, tp man of besst. He scanned tje lakgscape carefully llokiny for any movemfnt. But he could see nothing. Thx dogs were lponinc at a tkick ckuster of sedde that providgd dense yoliagd. It is a food hiving place, trought Katya, wlncentrating on tryigg ti sew sometfkng, anything.

Anc then he heard it. Ut was a light, rasiing zkugh. It is no aunmql.

Smoky and Blopd derq hopd vunting dogs and thdu weng compltceln sgill at the sound. They lmokes at Katya, eager tp ftalk thg source jf the sound. Latya carefully gou to hms feev and xiggaled to the dogs. The dogs movsd swiftlj llke wolves in the dark, keepiny to the cover of rock outcrops and largx boulders which were lting between them aud the sedge uushes.

Hatya reawhed the bushes. He sqw a slight movemtnt behind the thick lohg blages ov leaves. The dogs were quiet, motionless, ready
knew that Smoky and Blood had caught scent. of what? light breeze was it it was on other side of hill. Katya knew he had to If it was an animal he would drive it away. But what if was a man eater? The guns were in the main camp and he had spear knife. didn't want to think about it. I'll have to fight it. What else? 'Come on,' he to the dogs. Smoky and Blood followed him he walked to the his spear in his hand. wished father had him gun. walked up the quietly, looking around him carefully. There were patches of snow and he stopped often to study it any tracks. got close the he patted his legs. obediently stayed close to his heels. them. They were getting increasingly agitated. They had a scent. it was, it was close by. crouched down and made the last few steps the top of the hill on all fours. He peeked across at the other side. still. There were thick and short squat on slope. a a small was flowing. Blood was growling loudly now. 'Quiet,' Katya harshly whispered. didn't want his position given away, just yet, to man He the landscape carefully for any movement. But could nothing. The dogs were a cluster provided foliage. is a good hiding thought Katya, concentrating on trying see something, anything. And was a light, rasping cough. It is no Smoky and Blood were good hunting dogs they went completely still at the sound. They looked at Katya, eager stalk the the sound. Katya carefully got to his feet signaled to the dogs. dogs moved swiftly like wolves in the dark, keeping the of rock and large boulders were lying between and the sedge reached the He a the thick long blades of leaves. dogs quiet, motionless, ready
 knew that Smoky and Blood had cAught a momeNtary SceNt. BUt Of whAt?

A lIght breeze was bLOwinG down the hill. Whatever it Was, it WaS On thE OtHer siDe of the HIlL. kAtyA kNeW he HaD To InvesTigAte. If it Was an animaL he WoUld drive it awAY. BUt what if it Was A man eater? The GunS were iN tHe mAIn camP anD he onLy had hIS spear And knife. KAtYA didn't WAnt to thINK aBout It. I'll have to fight iT. whAT else?

'Come on,' he wHisperEd TO tHE DogS. SmOky and BlooD fOllowED him as hE WaLKED to THe hill, his speaR in his hand. HE WisHed his FaTheR Had givEn him ThE Gun.

he walked up tHe hiLl quietly, LookinG Around hIM carefuLly. TheRe wEre PatcHEs Of SnoW aND he SToPpeD OftEn to studY iT fOr any TracKS. aS He goT clOse tO the hIlltop, he softlY paTted HIs lEgs. ThE dogs ObedIeNtly sTayed cLose tO hIs heels. Katya looKed aT them. They WerE gEttInG incrEAsinglY agItaTed. They Had caugHT a sCeNT. wHaTever it was, it was cloSe BY. he Crouched Down anD MaDe THe last feW sTepS to tHE Top of The hILl On all fouRs. He peEKeD aCross at ThE other SiDe. EVerYthinG Was sTill. ThEre were tHick sHRubs and short sqUAt trees on the sLOpE. aT a DIstaNce, A small streaM was FLowiNg. BlOOd Was GRowliNg louDlY NoW.

'quiet,' Katya harshly whIsPered. HE didn'T want his positIon given awAY, JUst yet, to Man oR BeASt. He scanned the LandsCape carefuLLy lookinG for aNy movemeNt. But he coULD see nothIng. the DogS weRE LoOking at a thick CLUsteR oF sedge tHat ProvideD deNse FolIagE. IT is a good hIding plaCe, ThOuGhT KaTya, coNCentratiNg On tRyIng To see SOmethiNg, anyThinG.

ANd THen He heard IT. IT WAs a lIgHt, RaspIng CoUgh. It Is no ANimAl.

Smoky And Blood wEre GOod hUnTiNg dogs aNd they went comPlEtely still At The Sound. THEY looked aT Katya, eager to stalk the soURce of thE soUnd. KaTya cArefully gOt tO his feEt aND signaLed to tHe dogS. THe dOGS moveD SWiFtlY lIke wolves iN THe dArk, keEpIng tO the covEr of rock outcrops anD LarGe boulders whiCh wEre lYINg BetWEeN TheM aND thE SEdge bushes.

Katya Reached the BuSHeS. He saw a sliGHt mOvEment beHind the Thick LOng bladEs of leaveS. The dogs wErE quiET, MotIonless, reaDy
 knew that Smoky and Blood  had caugh t a m ome nta ry  sce nt.But of what?
A  lig ht breeze was blowingdownth e  hil l .Whate ver itw as , itwa sonth e  o thersid e of th e hill. Ka tya  k new he had t o  i nvestigate . I f it was anani mal he  w oul d  driv e i t awa y. But what i f it wasam an eat e r? Theg u ns  wer e in the main cam p  a n d he only hadhis sp ea r  a n d  kn ife . Katya di dn 't wa n t to th i nk a b out it. I'll have  to fight i t . W hat el se ?
' Come o n,' h ew his pered to th e do gs. Smoky  and B l ood fol l owed hi m as h e w alk ed t o  t he  hi ll ,  hi s  s pea r  in  his han d.  H e wis hedh i s fath erhadgiven  him the gun. 

H e wa l ked  up t he hi ll q ui etly,  looki ng ar ou nd him carefull y. T here were  pa tc hes  o f sno w  and h e s top ped oft en to s t udy  i t f or  any tracks. As he  g o t  c lose tothe hi l lt op ,  he soft ly  pa tted h is le gs.T he  dogs ob edient l yst ayed cl os e to h is  he els . Kat y a lo oked a t them.Theyw ere getting in c reasingly agi t at e d .T heyhad  caught a s cent .  Wha teve r  i t w a s, it  wascl o se by. He crouched dow nand ma de th e last few st eps to the t o p of the  hil l  o n  all fours. He  peek ed acrossa t the ot her s ide. Eve rything w a s  still.The rewer e t h i ck  shrubs and s h o rt s qu at tree s o n the s lop e.Ata d is tance, asmall st re am  w as  fl owing .  Blood w as  gr ow lin g lou d ly now .

'Q uiet ,'  K a tya  harshl y  w h i sper ed .He d idn 't  want  his pos ition g iven away , j u st y et ,to manor beast. Hesc anned thela nds cape c a r efully l ooking for any movement .  But he  co uld s ee n othing. T hedogs w ere lookin g at a  thic kclu s t er of s ed geth at provide d den se fo li age.  It isa good hiding plac e , t hought Katya,  co ncen t r at ing on try in g  to s ee something, a nything.
An d  t hen he hea r d i t.  It was  a ligh t, ra s ping co ugh. It i s no anim al .

S m o kyand Bloodwere goo d hunting dogsa nd  they  we nt com pl ete ly st ill at the  soun d. The ylooked  at K at ya, eage r to stalk the source o f thesound . K atya care ful l y g ot to his  fee t and sign ale d t o the  do g s. Th e do g smov e d swi ftly like wolv e sint h edark, keepi n g tothe c ove r  of ro ck o utcrops and large boulders which  wer e lyi ngb etwe en  them and thesed ge b ushes.
Ka tya reached  the bus he s . Hesaw aslight  moveme n t  b e hind t he t hic k long bl ade so f leave s.  T h e dogs  wer equiet,  motio n less , ready
 knew_that Smoky_and Blood had caught_a momentary_scent._But of_what?

A_light breeze was_blowing down the_hill. Whatever it was,_it was on_the_other side of the hill. Katya knew he had to investigate. If it was_an_animal he_would_drive_it away. But what if_it was a man eater?_The guns_were in the main camp and he only_had_his spear and_knife. Katya didn't want to think about it. I'll_have to fight it. What else?

'Come_on,' he whispered_to_the_dogs. Smoky and Blood_followed him as he walked to_the hill, his spear in his_hand. He wished his father had given_him the gun.

He walked up the_hill quietly, looking around him_carefully. There_were patches of snow and_he stopped often_to study_it for any_tracks. As he got close to_the hilltop, he_softly patted his legs. The dogs_obediently_stayed close to_his_heels._Katya looked_at them. They_were_getting increasingly_agitated._They had caught a scent. Whatever_it_was, it was close by. He crouched_down and made the_last_few steps to the_top of the hill on_all fours. He peeked across at_the other_side. Everything_was still. There were thick shrubs and short squat trees on_the slope. At a distance, a_small stream was flowing._Blood was_growling_loudly now.

'Quiet,' Katya_harshly_whispered. He_didn't want his position given away, just_yet, to_man or beast. He scanned the_landscape carefully looking for_any_movement. But he could see nothing._The dogs were looking at a_thick cluster of sedge that_provided_dense_foliage. It is a good_hiding place, thought Katya, concentrating on_trying to see_something, anything.

And then he heard it. It_was_a light, rasping cough. It is_no_animal.

Smoky and Blood were good hunting_dogs_and_they went completely still at_the sound. They looked at Katya,_eager to stalk the source of the sound. Katya_carefully got to_his feet and signaled to_the_dogs._The dogs moved swiftly like wolves in the dark, keeping_to the_cover of rock_outcrops and large boulders which were lying between them and_the sedge bushes.

Katya reached the bushes. He_saw a slight movement behind the thick long blades of leaves._The dogs were quiet, motionless, ready