The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-31
Z. Gou s1aru o,er Ratt0e Assegu.',


i 4 fes tWo tauS Rlth tnelr eyes nSeu
down the sides of the rugged path.
way, which q little above whore
they stood, opened upon vast spaces
of the softest and closest yerdue.
The pastures Of the Abrugzi are
among the most famous Of the
world, and their focks of sheep are
almost innumerable. The chief enc,
my they have to apprebend, as the
reader gathers,is from the vast droves
Of wolves that infest the forests, and
prowl among the hocks where they
can, and thus constant war ia carri-
ed on between them and the shep-
herds in charge; and sometimes the
dangers to be encountered from ami.
mails have half.maddened by rage
and hunger, arc Of the most appall-
ing kind.
Once more the cry came, lower
and suppressed, but still peculiar and
prolonged. 1t was like a signal.
Pietro, my brother, do you know
that sound?' asked Rondinetto, if we
did not by this time learn the howl
Of o wolf, or the watch, TOO, we
should not make either shepherds OF
hunters
And you will be huntef9' pur-
sued Pietro.
sJust you see,' answered Rondi-
netto, entering the hut and returning
with tho rifle in his hand which,
though somewhat large and heavy,
he still seemed to master with ease.
Now, if Black.muzzle- two
or three of them, were to show them
selves in the ravine there I should
not care one jot for them as long as'
I could speak to them with this.
And this is the hunters spirit
said Pietro. SWELL, in that lease give
me the hatchet; and Lion! =;
Look out good dog!-look ssSE. Sss Ss:g
is certain father was not3Nro Ne Nj
conjecturcs.' 3S3esSI y
The dogs in the cantiai ,s sls
manned almost irniuoYabls II Il 81 81
stasaesq uet position shefcry d: gas.
for such Twas. had surprised fsssIeIH.;
With haunches thrown back, ,ostrils
debated, ears eft oct. :one fore paw,
suspendedi ,apd the eibushy tail slowly,
sweeping fbS gopnd, ;both were lis
tening for d recurrence of!ithe omin,
Gus sound that warned them of dan
ger that would have paled the cheeks
of brave men.
The wolves will force this passage,
Pietro, said Rondinetto; 'and we had
better keep as near to the hut as pos
sible; for there will not be a dozen
or twenty, but they will come in
scores, perhaps. Ha1k!'
Again the cry arose, and now it
was joined in by several others. -
Twilight that fingered still in that
lofty region, made the craggy path.
way clear and open, and they saw
several dark objects issue from
among thickly growing pine trees,
and crawl stcalthlly, till the animated
mass rendered it impossible to be
numbered.
BY the heavy door Of the hut
stood pole, around which a coInbus.
tible material Of tow and pitch was
wound, which, ON being ignited,
would communicate itself TO the tow
ering shaft Of pine placed there for
the purpose.
"Within, Pietro, within!' shouted
Rondinctto. "The dogs and I can
keep the first body at bay. I must
have a shot, and one or two down,
they will stay to secure comrades,
while the sound Of the rifle will help
to carry the alarm. Quick, they are
coming-get fire-get light and
look to your Ratchet. Now, my no,
bic Lion! my brave Death! look to it
my brave dogs, and may your in.
stinct guide you!'
Heavens, what o NUMBER said
Pietro, as he cast glance below,
before entering the hut to procure
the fire; and Rondinetto, with q pale
face, with calm finn lips, knelt down,
his weapon in his hand to strike
down the first conner.
Light up, Pietro,' he said, 'and
pass NC the powder and bullets
The next moment {. wild and hor.
riblc yell was sounded through the
forest, and reverberate6 in the hol
low of the rocks. The sky was now
darkly blue, and the livid flame crept
rapidly up the signal pole, and q
rushing avalanche of living, raven
Gus wolves were forcing the pass.
AT that moment, while a frightful
yell arose from the whole troop--a
yell that made the blood chill in the
veins-while the noble dogs were
preparing for the fighE-while the
blazing pine stem flungIits lurid in
formation far and near, a shot rang