The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-31

L
diabolical character of the ferocious
cries changed. II
The next instant those who follow
ed had pitched upon the carcass, and
while he was being torn into fifty
pieces, another had, by detour,
| |filledsup the space, and Rondinetto
| had bafelwtilne to fire another shot
and gain the door, ere the wolves
had surrounded the hut, and it re,
quired all the strength of the two
brothers to press tho door to, and
and place the bar across it.
The yelling that arose from with.
out was absolutely horrible; but what
was the horror Of the youths to hear
these yells answered by one from
within in reply
The blood became ice the joints,
for an instant weak as water--and
mutual despair cleaned in the eyes
of both.
They had shut a wolf up with
them
For the first few minutes thcy
heard the deep baying Of the hounds
without, and then as suddenly ceased.
The two boys concluded that the
dogs, having their own reasons for
what they did, had assisted the frat
resistance, and, the signal being
given, had in their own fashion re.
treated.
That this latter was a-dificult and
dangerous process, there was no
question; but Lion an, Death were
sagacious hounds, and possessed
methods of their own; so the boys
had no fear.
This was what passed through their
minds while the first business of Sc
curing tho door had been gone
llSt,resgh;@5ut as soon as they knew
/ stsS ealing hss sthaor orrasber.
,ss v had, terror ab.
,:.5S ssss tRs itiss s$hts every other
Hilton to.sIe fact that Rondi.t
out of his i Eessii slsi ! 81 5iiS tSsT ise,8
3insthe hurry of fastening the door,
had let his axe fall; and this also
was out Of reach, while any attempt
on their part to move, might have
pteeibitated upon them tho huge,
ravenous, hideous, brute.
His red. feverish tongue was pro.
truded, and he painted fcarfully.-
The display made of the enormous
teeth, the unusual size Of the animal,
the fierce untractable eyes with that
peculiar glare so commonly express
ed 'wolfsh,' were fastened upon
them; and the bristling hair and
short name, all indicated that the
savage brute only remembered the
fatal effect of the shot, and was part
ly cowed by that.
IF I could but reach the gun
whispered Rondidctto.
Look OUT said Pietro; sget your
knife ready-we forgot those-I see
mischief in him.
Shall We make a dash at him?'
inquired the first speaker.
Are you afraid? demanded Pie
tro, quietly.
4 do not feel 80; but 'tis q horrible
brute
Get ready; think Of your mother,
and trust in God upon the Virgin.
Now and the brave lads, as he
spoke, both dashed at the hirsute
monster, who, with a revolving cry,
seized Pietro by the leg and began
gnawing it, but the two knives had
wounded without doing more than in
furiating him.
'Kick the axe to me- said Pietro,
on the ground, and stabbing at the
enemy all the time. '"Tis DONE
A thought flashed through Rondi.
netto's breast. The light from which
Pietro had obtained fire to light the
signal, was not yet extinguished, and
some too mixed with turpcntine be.
ing at hand, he silently and swiftly
reached q loose mass, applied it to
taper, and in an instant while it
spread into leaping lane, with q
cry, thrust his full hand before the
VOLTS face, who, with howl Of
alright, released Pietro, who, the
next instant, like bold.witted boy
as he was, brought down his axe
with strong and effectual blow
across the animals snout.
He was now mad with pain and
terror, and turning from Pietro, who
was much lacerated through the
thigh, attacked Rondinctto and threw
him to the ground. as he was loading
the gun, and, but for his vest, would
have fixed his ioaming fangs the
boys throat.
sThe axe, Pietro; strike him, OF he
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