The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-10-23

Norway we always SET out meal IUr
them in winter nights. My father
never has done it here.
There was haunch of venison hang
ing to the rafter, but half dried. The
boy laid it in front of the fire until it
began 10 crackle and burn Greta
knelt on the hearth watching it. She
knew that this was the way i'll which
the angry spirits that filled the noun
tains of Norway was nppeaSed; but
she thought they had left all these ter
rible creatures behind them.
Peter took up the smoking meat
carried it to the edge of the woods,
threw it down and ran back, his teeth
chattering with terror.
Come away from the window he
cried to Greia. ut is death if you look
at them
He threw himself fiat 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 chink,' she thought.
The moon had risen and threw n
spectral light over the open space and
the dark woods beyond.
Little did the poor hoy think, that,
while appeasing the anger of imagina-
nv spirits. he was whetting the appe-
tite of creatures far more formidable.
What were these black shadowy
shapes tearing at the meat The chi!ds
blood grew cold in her veins. The
spirits were indeed there They left
the meat. They crept stealthy to the
house.
Wolves Wolves! She shrieked
They are climbing in at the win
dows =
Wolves =
Peter, with one leap, reached the
gun. He gave quick, convulsive shouts
as a boy is apt to do with great excite
ment. Wolves He could kill a hun
dred wolves A different thing from
spirits!
lie had just time to close the heavy
shutter, as the fierce beasts reached
the window. The door was already
shut. Grela drew the great bar across
it. The kitchen was full of the smoke
of the roasting meat, and the smell
maddened the furnished beasts, who
each had tasted but morsel of the
flesh.
There was 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 noi>elessly into
the shed, carrying the guns with them,
their eyes fixed on the square, open
hole, for which they had 10 defense.
The barking and yelping of the
wolves were ut the other side of the
house.
But suddenly a crash was heard
among the bushes, and one, two. a
dozen heads appeared at the open win
dow.
Peter fired There was yelp from
two that were hit, and the pack re-
treated for moment. The next mo-
ment the whole pack, discovering the
opening. rushed TO that side of the
house. The window was full of gleam-
ing eyes, and fierce, open jaws. Again
and again the boy fired, his sister load
ing the guns for him. But they were
too slow. One great, gaunt wolf leap
ed through the opening. The others
tore at each other in their fury to pass.
Without was a dark, bowling mass.
TO the loft To the loft ! shouted
Peter, retreaiing. still firing, toward
the ladder. But Greta, gone mad with
terror, as he thought, rushed past the
wolf, seizing a box, in which she kept
her wax doll, her Sunday ribbons, all
her most sacred treasures. 1t was
heavy box, but she lifted it and car
ried 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 is gun, and had reached
the ladder before he recovered.
BY the time the children gained the
loft, the kitchen was filled with a fur
ious, snarling pack.
If | could cut away the ladder If
had Ratchet 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 failing; the
open -mouthed beasts were endeavorIn
by means of the ladder, to leap into
the loft. He looked at Greta. who was
kneeling before her box, taking her
gilt-glasped 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 crack
ers and candles, and torpedos which
their father had bought from the ped
dler, to fire off on Christmas day !
a match? Ach, mein Colt; if We
have no match !
But there was one in the depths of
Peters pocket, and the next minute a
small red mass was lowered into the
midst of the pack. They stopped to
sniff at it. Then there was an explO-
sion. A dazzling glare of red and blue
lights filled the room. Poy! Bang
Bang! Yelps of terror from the wolves
shrieks of triumph from Peter. In less
than a minute, the burned and fright
ened pack had cleared the window and
halted in the yard. Peter ran down
the ladder, fun. another box of blaz
ing crackers among them, and followed
it up by more bullets.
The children at last found means tc
barricade the window, and did not dare
10 open it until the sun was up.
Their father and mother returned
. ! g. L..