The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-17
Csgsl.DssEiN'S COLUMN.
Pap Chippewa and The Voivc..
\ sroGN ron TuE BOYS.

The sheep were disappearing like hot
cakes. Every evening, new precautions
were taken to secure the fold, and, every
morning, Toy looked more and more per-
picked 1t was decided that no wild beast
could get in through the high, thick hedge
that surrounded the fold hence some hu.
man cunning must be working devastation
among the sheep. For several nights,
During this time our sheep were not dis
turbed, while another fold in the vicinity
suffered no invasion.
The inquiry may arise why Grip, the
shepherds dog. did not protect the sheep
by holding nightly guard about the fold,
Now Grip was an industrious dog by day,
but, like his ancestors across the sea, he
had always been accustomed to enjoy the
snuggest corner at his masters fireside by
night therefore Grip refused to act in this
emergency. Ii he was driven from the
house, he returned and whined importu-
nately, Mt the door until we were glad to
admit him for the sake of quietude. When
the family retired, he sought his kennel and
slumbered unconcerned until morning.
After q while Toy got tired out and the
watch was discontinued. Then the robbery
went on again as brisk as ever. Finally
Toy came to me one day, and said ''Red-
skinned imp steal sheep
GLOW do you know? Have you caught
him?" inquired.
mo catch imp. Catch sleepskins
Wolves eat Sleeps. Imp feed wolves,-
many, many hungry wolves, -snarl, growl,
bite, scratch, snap" And Toy went through
with various ugly sounds and motions to il
lustrate his statement.
"But how do you know Pap Chippewa
feeds the wolvesf' questioned further
(Toy always called Pap Chippewa the fred
skinned imp" if you will remember.)
"Catch imp's pony imp's dog round VOLTS
den. Toy watch long time, imp no come ;
gone off stealn' sheep maybe. Toy hurry
home. watch shcepfold; so lie no catch
imp
An absurd report it seemed. Pap Chip
pewa stealing food for the wolves! As if
the creatures were not capable of thieving
for themselves They infested the timber.
and prowlcd abroad on the prairie, and
skuked about the farm yards nightly, pes
tering the farmers to distraction; and yet
these were the arch-marauders that were
being tostered with tender stolen lambs
"Miss Do keep mouth shut tight. No
tell squaw mother, cause she say no, no.
Dark come. Squaw Osewa. Miss Do,
skulk out, mount ponies, ride far off, watch
imp feed wolves. Toy catch him, lick him.
scalp him maybe"
I'm rather ashamed, to say that, "bcing
ripe for folly" agreed to carry out Toys
plan, and steal aw with him and Osewa af-
ter pa and ma had gone to sleep, that night
TWAS a gusty night in late November; n
suitable time for the uncanny GRAND we
were bound upon. \ murky moonlight
struggled through the hurrying clouds,
casting weird shadows everywhere. A
single tall old hickory, standing out upon
the prairie, tossed its arms like disturbed
ghost in the rasping wind. We had gone
about three miles, when | inquired how far
orr journey was to stretch.
BLACK lrc-holc in big valley" 10Y re.
piled, pointing beyond stand of timber
which we were approaching.
The "black fire holc" was an enormous
excavation which some sanguine specuator
had made in the side of deep ravine, with
view to opens coal mine in that direction.
Failing to find coal in paying quantities,
he had given up the scheme, leaving this
dismal relic OF collapsed expectations. 1t
was wild, deserted place, remote from
habitation. Pap Chippewa couldn't have
chosen moro covert retreat in which to
carry out the mischieyous purpose of which
Toy accused him;
'Red-sknned imp hear ponies tramp.
Two feet skulk round black fire-hole," Toy
said, as we rode over the summit of the
ravine. Accordingly we dsmounted, and,
securing our ponies, pursued our way on
foot.
"What if the wolves should scent our
approach and attack us in bodyl" / said,
when we were not far distant from the cave.
Osewa scowled ferociousy, and uplifted
ponderous club with which she had fort-
fed herself before leaving home. Toy
grinned contemptuously at this display, and
said "Big she-wolves lariated. Little one
no fight. Hank, bark! !"
Listening, we heard a volley Of short,
quick barks resembling the noise that might
arise from IA pack of quarrelsome pups.
These were followed by low, continuous
growls, which gradually grew louder until
the cave resounded with the voices of a
seeming multitude of wolves. Toy pushed
forward through the mouth of this wild
beasts den. Osewa followed, and dared
not lag behind. In the remotest corner of