The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-09-12

VOL. Y.

expostnlating with the agonized strange
"Only come down and open the door
said he, in his exceeding terror, 1.-THE
will be up n me directly, hear their ,ot
steps now. They have pursued me Al
down the valley my horse is worn on
With the pursuit, and can go no further
only come and open the door; you hay
time, indeed you have, before they can !,
upon us. Pray-pray be qniekl"
The wretched man uttered these worl,
in. broken sentences, while his eyes were
fixed entreatingly on the window; but
karl's craven heart still refused to give
him courage. There was terrible story
connected with bygone days, mixed up
with that part of the valley, of wolves
having (driven by winter hunger) burst
torcibly into goat-herd's hut and de.
voured its helpless inhabitants before
they were able to defend themselves.
While Karl and his wife, who still laid
IN her bed, with her teeth chatterine with
fright, were hesitating as 10 what to do.
the wolves had turned the last corner OF
the road, and we're close upon the heels
OF the traveller. He cast one last. piteous
look OF dispair upon Karl, leaped upon
his horse, and dashed away into the soli-
tndes and SHOWS of the Lauterbrunaen
pass.
Scarcely had Karl time to realize that
the helpless horseman was gone, than the
whole pack dashed furiousIy past the inn
in full and close pursuit The host stood
appalled, at the still open window. He
continued to hear the fast receding
hoofs of the horse mingled with the still
faster departing bay of the wolves. Att
last all was still, except the low wailing
of the little wind there was in the top /
most boughs Of the fir trees ofthe Grnde
valid. The miserable m1n closed the I
window and returned to his bed, shudder
ing, as he deserved to do, at the thought +
OF, what might have happened by this time
through what be done. Meantime Fritz.
having accomplished the object of his
Journey to Kandersteg, was returning
lome with Kaiser. The bold boy was
alone, but overtaken more rapidly than he
by nightfall. He knew the val
eys and the perilous pathway well, cor. i
eauently had chosen a somewhat shorteri;
quite than the beaten road Of the Lauter- Fl
runner pass. lie reached home about
n hour after the event related above. )
he dog had shown great restIessness, 5
OCCASIONALLY stopped and shifted the air, a
longh Fritz was quite ignorant Of the n
'usc. His parents lay awake as the boy Q
oproachel the hotel. They were not v
kelly to sleep that night, The horrors E
what might be happening up in that St
sful valley filed their minds. They ii
lew IN an instant the footsteps Of Fritz Ii
ID the bark Of Kaiser. The man darted h;
to open the door to his boy. NJ
Thank God you have come said he, nc
5 face pale and his voice agitated. 'We 70
au't expect you at this time. Make w
ste il, said he, as he began early to Or
Use the door. Fritz fingered in the br
ad. i.
II don't know what's the matter with IN
liser tonight; he has. been uneasy III
the last hour, and now he is shifting Al
out the road as if he smelt danger, hi,
re are footsteps ia the snow, y atten- 70
ely examining the ground. "Who has I'll,
IN here, father? Or what? Here
User, Kaiser, come here, old dog. pa
The dog obeyed. The animal and his DO
ster had now entered the door of the be;
!. The doorwas imme liately slammed dis
and the pale, terrified host told the wo
adful story to Fritz. yio
Ny father you have never sent that des
feler away2" bat
! have, boy. lie was hunted hard by he
ack Of wolves, and We dare not open mt
house lest the whole pack had come day
upon Us, ;" and the wretched man 5 reti
h chattered in his fright. {.
0, father, what have you done It's fatf
sgrace to the valley, its . disgrace to bee
szerand it will be lasting, disgrace E
nr family y