The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-12-17

boy laid IL in front of the fire until It
began to crackle and burn. Greta knelt
on the hearth watching 1t. She knew
that this was the way in which the an
CRY spirits that filed the mountains of
Norway were appeased; but she thought
they had left all these terrible creatures
behind them.
Peter took up the smoking meat, car
ried it to the edge of the woods, threw
1t down and ran back, his teeth chatter
ing with terror.
Come away from the window" he
cried to Greta. cit is death IL you look
at them"
He threw himself flat upon the bed
But presently the little girl crept to
the window. Surely mother is COM
ing. And they can't see me, anyhow,
through this chinl1, 3" she thought.
The moon had risen, and threw
spectral light over the open space and
the dark woods beyond.
Little did the poor boy think that,
while appeasing the anger of imaginary
spirits, he was whetting the appetite of
creatures far more formidable.
What were these black, shadowy
shapes tearing at the meat? The child's
blood grew cold in her veins. The
spirits were indeed therel They left
the meat. They crept stealthily to the
house.
Wolves wolves ~ she shrieked.
"They are climbing in at the win
dowsl'
"WolYes !"
Peter, with one leap, reached the gun.
He gave quick, convulsive shouts, as a
boy is apt to do with great excitement.
Wolves He could kill hundred
wolves A different thing from spiritsl
He had just time to close the heavy
shutter MS the fierce beasts reached the
window. The door was already shut.
Greta drew the great bar across it. The
kitchen was full of the smoke of the
roasting meat, and.the smell maddened
the famished beasts, who each had tasted
but morsel of his flesh.
There was q window in the wash-shed,
for which there was no shelter.
They will not find it," whispered
Greta. "The bushes cover it,"
The children crept noiselessly into the
shed, carrying the guns with them their
eyes fixed on the square, open hole, for
which they had no defense. The bark
ing and yelps of the wolves were at the
other side of the house.
n,t 1lxn N oro !, ,.,o q Il On arJo o ,,,op,,
the bushes, and one, two, dozen heads
appeared at the open window.
Peter fired. There was a yelp from
two that were hit, and the pack retreated
for moment. The next moment the
whole pack, discovering the opening,
rushed to that side of the house. The
window was full of cleaning eyes, and
fierce, open jaws. Again and again the
boy fired, his sister loading the guns for
him. But they were too slow. One
great, gaunt wolf leaped through the
opening. The others tore at each other
in their fury to pass. Without was
dark, bowling mass.
"To the loft To the left - shouted
Peter, retreating, still firing, toward the
ladder. But Greta, gone mad with ter
ror, as he thought, rushed past the wolf,
sezing box, in which she kept her
wax doll, her Sunday ribbons, all her
most sacred treasures. 1t was a heavy
box, but she lifted it and carried it to the
ladder. The wolf sprung at the boy,
but Peter had the strength of two men
that night. He dealt him stunning
blow on the skull with the butt end of
his gun, and had reached the ladder be-
fore he recovered.
BY the time the children gained the
| loft the kitchen was filled with furious,
snarling pack.
If 1 could cut away the ladder! If
1 had hatchet or knife ~ cried Peter.
"There is no way to keep them down ~
He stood in the trap-door, dealing blow
after blow with his gun. They had left
the powder and shot below. The boys
strength was going; the open-mouthed
beasts were endeavoring, by means of
the ladder, to leap into the loft. He
looked at Greta, who was kneeling be-
fore her box, taking out her gilt-clasped
Bible.
No wonder the child had gone mad.
She sprung to her feet at last. Peter,
seeing what she held in her hand, gave
a wild yell.
The fireworks-the precious crackers
| In I'D xrrht hoir