The cold wind rampaging through the dense forest ceiling, the awesome sound of the timber wolves howling in the distance and constant creaking of the giant pines, brought to young David ‘ s mind the sudden realization that he was alone!

He was alone and afraid, he would more than likely die this way! His tiny body racked with pain as he tried desperately to sit up and clear his head, but the stabbing pain in his lower back and left side forced him backwards onto the cold, wet forest floor.

David closed his eyes and managed to take a couple short breaths of air into his lungs, he knew that he must stay calm. Memories of attending survival camp with his father and the lessons learned consumed his mind. Remember troop! The first rule of survival if lost and alone in the forest is staying calm! Don ‘ t Panic!

He remembered thinking to himself, Gee I love my dad, but he ‘ s just an over grown windbag. As if I would ever allow myself or even find myself in this sort of situation! Let’s get to the marshmallow roasting, that ‘ s the only reason he came on these silly trips with him.

David began to assess his situation; he knew that he was injured. Slowly moving his hands down his side and on the underside of his lower back he felt carefully as he went.

He rested momentarily, trying hard to regain his senses and then continued examining himself for injuries. Removing his right hand from underneath his back he slowly brought it up to his face then back down onto his chest. Undoing his shirt part way, he reached in under it, examining his left side. He found yet another lump; it was very large and had a hole in its center.

This injury was bleeding profusely! Pressing firmly with his hand over the injury, he tried to slow the bleeding. A cold clammy sweat and feelings of unyielding weakness ensnared his entire being. His mind became confused and his eyes heavy.

David fought these urges with all his might, because he knew that sleep would bring relief from his pain. But, it could also bring about his death. Death was waiting patiently for him, lingering some where ‘ s in the shadow of the night.

As he laid there helplessly on the cold damp ground, David began to recall the tragic and untimely events that led up to his sudden demise.

Just off to the right of one of his lower vertebrae he could feel a raised lump, in center of the protrusion was a hole.

Pressing gently, he moved his fingers around it ‘ s edge, the sharp stinging pain that followed it nearly drove him to the brink of unconsciousness.

Her words filled the far reaches of his foggy brain. David, you ‘ re

going to be late for school! If you don ‘ t hurry up, you ‘ re going to miss your bus. You know how we feel about you walking to school at this time of year! she said.

Oh, chill mom! he retorted. You and Dad say the same thing everyday; the bus is always at least five or ten minutes late. Besides the point, I’ve never missed it yet! Even if I did, I ‘ m not the only kid that walks to school during deer hunting season, he snapped back.

He remembered mom ‘ s angry reply, as he gathered up his packsack of school books and started toward the door. That will be quite enough out of you! You might have just turned thirteen last month, but that doesn ‘ t give you the right to start questioning your parent’s good judgment! We know what ‘ s best, don ‘ t forget it! she said.

Yah, right! he retorted, as he slammed the door shut behind him, just in time to see the bus pulling away from it ‘ s stop.

Stick to the road, no short cuts! a voice yelled out from behind him. Shaking his head in her direction, he turned and started down the long and winding mountainous road in the direction of the school.

After fifteen minutes or so into his journey he remembered hearing some large twigs snap some where ‘ s just off the road in the woods. He stopped walking when a yearling fawn staggered out from the woods and onto the dirt road in front of him. He Watched, as the young deer slowly limped across the road and started down the steep embankment. The animal appeared to be injured so he decided to follow it.

Now, standing at the edge of the embankment, he watched as it clamoured down the steep incline. The deer fell, rolling under a giant red pine at the bottom of the ravine!

The animal was just about completely hidden, almost invisible to the untrained eye. If not for the fact that he had watched it all the way to its ill fated end, he wouldn’t of been able to see where it had fallen.

He remembered hearing a faint metallic click some where ‘ s off to his left as he turned back in the direction of the road. The last thing he heard was the sound of the gun firing some where ‘ s in the distance, and the sickening thud as something hard barrelled deep into his side! David became even more frightened for he now realized that he had been shot!

He could feel the low sinking feeling of depression entering his mind. If only I had just listened to what mom and dad told me, time and time again. I wouldn’t be in this situation right now! No, I would be back home warm and dry, in the comfort of my room, safe, uninjured and out of harms way! Instead, here I am! Lying at the bottom of this ravine severely injured, close to death ‘ s door and totally alone!

David began feeling the ground around him with his free hand, the ground felt flat and level. Continuing in short arches his hand came to a sudden stop upon hitting something in the dark. Grasping a hold of it firmly he was able to determine what it was. His hand was on the dead deer.

The howling of a timber wolf beckoned him back to reality. He listened carefully trying to determine where and how far away it was.

The howling was louder than when he had first heard it an seemed to be getting closer to where he was.

He remembered hearing his uncle telling his father about a time he and some of his hunting buddies were on a moose hunting trip. They had shot a big bull and had to track it. It was getting dark so they marked the area and resumed the search for the downed animal the next morning. They found the moose about a 100 yards from where they had called off the search the day before. A pack of wolves had managed to find it first though; it was ripped to shreds and half eaten.

Even though he had never heard of wolves ever attacking a human being or seen any documented cases in his studies at school, he still feared for his life. The only thing between a pack of hungry wolves and their meal was an injured kid! If they were on to the dead deer ‘ s scent he too was in possible danger.

David knew that he had to find some sort of safety if he was to protect himself against any attack that might come. With the aid of his free hand, he managed to roll onto his stomach, trying to ignore the severe pain which followed his every moment, he

pulled himself along the wet forest floor. He kept moving until his advancement was blocked by a large tree in front of him. He pulled himself into a sitting position and leaned back against the tree.

The moon began to shine down through the forest ceiling and he could see two large rocks on either side of him. He closed his eyes for a moment and tried to rest, but the pain from his injuries wouldn ‘ t let him.

The deer carcass loomed before him in the moonlight; it was no more than twenty feet away.

Searching the ground around him, he found a well seasoned limb; it was about two feet long and approximately two inches in diameter. He banged it against the rocks to test it ‘ s strength, it would afford some protection if need be. Studying it for a moment he decided that he would use it as a signalling device as well!

His wounds stopped bleeding for the time being and there was no longer any pain. For some strange reason he couldn’t feel anything from about the middle of his back down. It didn’t matter though. He welcomed the relief form his pain.

He knew his chances of surviving the night were next to nil, but at least now he had a fighting chance! Leaning back against the tree he began his long wait. Gazing up at the full moon that was shining down through the forest ceiling David tried hard to stay awake. But, sometime during the night he drifted off into unconsciousness. The honking of horns and shrieking of whistles above the ravine awakened David from his sleep! He stared up in the direction from which they were coming. Near the top of the ravine he could see flashlights bobbing up and down on the sides of the steep slopes! He tired to yell out, but he was to weak!

High above him on the road he could hear someone yelling out excitedly! We found something! I think we found something! It ‘ s one of the young lad ‘ s school book!

He might have fallen over the edge; we ‘ ll have to send in a special unit! Call for the canine tracking unit! another voice said.

David tired to call out again for help but it was no use. He was just to weak! Out of pure desperation, he lunged forward and started pounding on the

rocks with his club! The searing pain in his side from his sudden movements forced him back hard against the trunk of the tree. Once more he drifted into unconsciousness!

The snarling growls and gnashing of teeth filtered into David ‘ s semi-conscious mind. Opening his eyes slowly, he gazed in the direction of the noise! He watched on helplessly in wide eyed terror as a pack of wolves began to devour the carcass of the dead dear!

Grabbing the seasoned limb with both hands, he raised it high above his head. One of the wolves saw his movement and slowly came toward him!

Snarling, eyes and teeth glistening in the moonlight, it came to a stop a few feet away, waiting patiently for its chance to lunge out and strike at him!

Leaping into the cold night air it hurtled toward him! David brought down the club with all his might, hitting the wild beast squarely on top of it ‘ s head! The wolf gave a loud yelp and fell to the ground, slowly getting to its feet it retreated into the shadows of the night!

Two more left the carcass and took up the attack where their injured companion had left off! He tried to raise the club again, but he was to weak. He knew that this time they would succeed and his end was near.

What happened next totally surprised him! They were almost on top of him, when they suddenly stopped their attack and veered off into the darkness and vanished! He looked in the direction of the deer carcass just in time to see the remaining wolves turn away from their meal and dart back into the shadows of the forest, vanishing almost as fast as the ones before them.

The sound of dogs, accompanied by human voices filled the night air. Someplace in the darkness a voice cried out excitedly! Old Blue ‘ s found him!

David felt the warm wet tongue on the side of his face and heard the soft whimper in his ear as the tracking dog sat down beside him on the ground!

Leaning back against the soft warm fur of his rescuer, he slipped into unconsciousness.

David looked around the packed gym of the public school, searching the eyes and facial expressions of the many children that he had held captive by his story.

A young student raised her hand, at the back of the room. Pointing at her he motioned for her to speak. She began to speak, Mr. Hendrickson, sir … He interrupted, saying you may call me David, dear. Smiling she continued.

David, I was just wondering, if this is how you ended up in your wheelchair? He sat silently for a moment before answering her question.

Weighing his words carefully, he answered. Yes, dear, when I was struck by the stray bullet it severed my spinal cord. Will you ever walk again?, she asked. No dear, the damage was to extensive, he replied.

Do you hate the person that shot you?, another student asked. No son, but at one time I use to though; it took me several years to come to terms with myself. I blamed my unfortunate accident on all the wrong people. It was easier that way, David replied!

You see children, as long as I had someone else to blame, I didn ‘ t

have to face up to the fact. The only one to blame in my case was me, I was where I had no business being. I should have listened to my parents and stayed on the road.

David paused for a moment before continuing to speak. He wanted to make sure that his message was getting through to everyone in the gym!

Reaching his hand down beside the wheelchair, David found Old Blues big burly head and gave it a pat. Old Blue was retired from service and put up for adoption shortly after rescuing him, so David adopted him.

Well, Blue, old fellow, how am I doing? Do you think that I ‘ m getting through to them?, he asked.

Pressing his wet nose deep into David ‘ s out stretched hand, Old Blue gave a resounding deep throated bark! The entire room full of kids filled with laughter upon hearing Blue ‘ s old bark!

Smiling, David spoke once more. You see children, if I would ‘ ve just listened to all the warnings, I might not be in the wheelchair you see here today.

With that, David left the children behind promising that he would return again next year.

Steering his specially equipped bus onto the highway, he started down the road in the direction of his next school, just another one of the many stops he would make this year.