The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-02-19
PAP CHIPPEWA AND THE WOLVES

PAP CHIPPEWA AND THE WOLVES. |
The sheep were disappearing like hot
cakes. Every evening, new precautions
were taken to secure the fold, and, ev-
cry morning, Toy looked more and
more perplexed. It was decided that
no wild beast could get in through the
high, thick hedge that surrounded the
fold; hence some human cunning must
beWorking devastation among the sheep.
For several nights, watch was kept, Toy
acting as sentinel. During this time
our sheep were disturbed, while anoth-
er fold in the vicinity suffered no inva-
sion.
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 lndustri-
GUS dog by dry, but, like his ancestors
across the sea, he had always been ac-
customed to enjoy the snuggest corner
at his masters fireside by night there
fore Grip refused TO act in this emer-
| gency. If he was driven from the house,
he returned and whined approximately
at the door until we were glad TO admit
him for the sake of quietude. When
the family retired, he sought his ken
mel and slumbered nnconcerned till
morning. a Et
After while Toy got tired out and
the watch was discontinued. Then tie
/ robbery went on again as brisk as ever.
| Finally Toy came to me, one day,
and said, " Red. skinned imp steal
| sheep" = - 80
elbow do you know? Have you caught
him ?" I inquired. .tl
! No catch imp, Catch sheepskins.
/ IUolxae ohaorato snaiHau INN Faa6
| wolves, many, many hungry wolves,
| -snarl, growl, bite scratch, snap"
/ And Toy went through with various ug-
| ly sounds and motions to illustrate his
statement.
"But how do you know Pap Chippe-
wa feeds the wolves ?" 1 questioned
! further. Coy always called Pap Chip
pewa the "red-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 stealth sheep maybe.
Toy hurry home, watch sheepfOld; so
he no catch imp"
An absurd report it seemed. Pap
Chippewa stealing food for wolves AS
| il the creatures were not capable of
thieving for themselvesl They infested
the timber, and prowled abroad ON the
prairie, and skulked about the farm
yards nightly, Fostering the farmers to
distraction; and yet these were the
arch-marauders that were being fostered
with tender stolen lambs
Miss Do keep mouth shut tight.
| No tell squaw mother, cause she saw
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, g be-
ing ripe for folly" ] sgreed to carry
ont Toys plan, and steal away with
him and Osewa after pa and ma had
gone to sleep, that night.
IL was a gusty night in late Novem-
Der suitable time for the uneanny
errand we were bound upon. A murky
moonlight struggled through the hurry
ing clouds, casting weird shadows every
where. A single tall old hickory, stand
ing out upon the prairie, tossed its arms
like disturbed ghost in the rasping
wind. We had gone about three miles,
when I inquired how far our journey
was to stretch. EtE-It EF
&c Black tire-hole in big valley" Toy
replied, pointing beyond stand OF
timber which we were approaching.
The "black hole was an enor-
nous excavation which some sanguine
! Il
deep ravine, with a view to opening a
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. It was
a wild, deserted place, remote from any
habitation. Pap Chippewa couldn't
have chosen more covert retreat in
which to carry ont the mischievous pur-
pose of which Toy accused him.
Red-skinned imp hear ponies tramp.
Two feet skUlk round black hre-hole, >
Toy said, as we rode over the summit OF
the ravine. Accordingly we dismounted
and securing our ponies, pursued oul
way on foot.
"What if the wolves should scent
our approach and attack MS in BODY p
I said, when we were not far distant
from the cave.
Osewa scowled ferociously, and up
lifted ponderous club with which she
had fortified herself before leaving
home. Toy grinned contemptuously a
, this display, and said "Big she
wolves lariated. Little one no fight
Hank, bark p e. .. .srgg4
Listening, we heard volley OF shorI
quick barks resembling the noise thai
might arise from pack of quarrelsoms
} 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
4 Osewa followed, and I dared not las
e behind. In the remotest corner of til,
, cave n Pickering torch was Just expir
: ing, and, by the light of this, scores o.
cleaning eyes were YEARLY watching
. our approach. A champing sound wa.
audible amid the groans and barks tina
a greeted us. Toy lit a lantern which M
: carried in his hand, and we made
I closer inspection. -Four families o
: wolves occupied the cave. Each famil,
Q had separate pen, made of logs auc
? bark, and other rough material As Tor
{ had said, the old she-wolves were "lari
5 ated" or chained to stakes driven int(
1 the ground inside the pens. The yount
: ones ranged in and out with freedom
Il There were twenty.six young wolves
o varying from tiny animals 10 half grown
! cubs. The cave was strewn with sheep
+ skins, many OF which we recognized a,
coming from our own flock, Evidently
a change of diet had been made. TIL,
wolves were grsodiiy fcasting on ,
d., young donkey which had been diyidet
Q among the four families. From Til
: and the expiring torch we judged tina
i the keeper of the animals had but latel,
Q taken his departure from the p ace
!. Toy was hugely disappointed.
X humph No catch imp. Toy mad
: Kill wolves" he growled, seizing Ose
s was club, and raising it above an Ole
e Ehe-wolf, with murder written in hi
D. face
"No, mol You mustn't beat Their
t brains out, Toy = interposed.
Z With much difficulty he was re
strained. had two reasons for sparin.
Q the creatures lives. wanted thei
/ keeper TO be caught and punished 70
{ his atrucious raids upon our sheepfold
J aud then 1 was curious to learn wha
: Pap Chippewa was going 20 Ito will
: them. We determined TO ferret tn
a matter out If possible. The next night
= Toy and OsewR made another trip, thi
a time with pas knowledge and consent
q They returned, reporting that Cd
4 wolves had disappeared, together wit
e every vestige OF evidence concerning th
q ] chRTfafoII rnltanrfna H. 1. -.