The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-03
were about the house somewhere

were about the house somewhere 7
went to close a window, and tbon 7
could see the dark pack rushing as fast
as they could through the snow The
sky had cleared, and the stars were ont
so that l could see the folks at Br;oos'
and down the street were preparing
for the hungry animals. | didn't oef
those blinds shut any too quick. either
for the head of the gang were within a
few yards of the house. Just as was
leaving the room the old man came
rushing through the hall, SAVING.
"Jim and Jake have been headed Eff
between here and the barn by the mack
and all the wild cats are on 'em.n
You bet there was lively movin'
around then. The old man and Bill.
an older brother, took the guns and
went upstairs to the bedroom window
looking out on the yard. We could
hear the boys yelling for help, and the
growls of the delighted animals. nut
for an open window, and there was a.
fearful sight. Jim had drawn his lack
knife, and was keeping the cats at
bay, but poor Jake was helpless. A
big fellow had him down, and Jake
had his hands full on the rascal S
throat with an awful grip. Four or
fire more of the gang were irving to
get show at Jake, too. He kicked
right and left, and fought tike a tiger.
Jim had his hands full, even though he
did have knife. They got behind him,
and would jump on him. He gradual
ly worked his way toward the house,
however, and sister Sue, brave girl,
with nerves like a soldier, was waiting
to open the door and let him in. The
old man fired from the window first,
and one of the pack fell dead. Neither
Bill nor the GUNNER dared shoot at the
animals right around Jake, for fear of
shooting him. 1t was awful, tell you,
friends. Bill put charge in another
of the fierce brutes, and he keeled over.
BY that time some of the pack were de-
vouring the first catamount that the
old man had shot. But there were so
many of them that even the two dead
ones only drew away few of the gang.
Jim had put two of them out of the
way, and was working his way fast
towards safety, but he was terribly
weak from the wounds the cats had
given him. He was perfectly cool,
though, and he shouted once to Bill:
"Kill another blackguard, and then
enough of 'em will be busy eatin' to
give me time" Bill cracked away,
and down went a catamount close to
Jim. Two or three of the beasts
jumped on the wounded members of
the pack, and Jim made dash for the
door. Sue had it unfastened, and the
minute he reached the steps she threw
it open and he rushed in, but by
George! one of the hungry rascals
rushed in with him.
Then tell you there was fun Sue
had big meat-knife in her hand, and
she stabbed the brute, but it only exas-
perated him. 1t went for her right
away, and in moment there was cut
down her pretty cheek that left scar
she always carried afterward. Jim
turned as quick as a flash and buried
his jackknife deep into the brute's
throat. 1t was sumner, but before
the animal expired he gave Jim dig
in the right hand that was sore for a
good many weeks. Meanwhile Jake
was struggling out in the yard How
be held out as he did, with half-dozen
bloodthirsty beasts about him, is more
than | could ever understand. When
l stopped watching Jim, and looked
again to where Jake was he was all
torn and bloody. You wouldn't have
known him, so disfgured by the cata-
mounts was he. The only thing that
saved him was the fact that some of
the neighbors, hearing the noise of the
guns, had come out to lend assistance.
The instant they came near the house
the animals scented them, and all but
two left Jake. No sooner had they
gone than Jim rushed out of the house,
followed by Sue. l told you she was a
brave girl, didn't /? Instead of max
ing big fuss over the cut in her face,
she never thought of herself, but only
of Jake. The two catamounts left Jake
right away when they saw Jim and
Sue, started for them While one of
the rascals was midway between Jim
and Sue, the old man put enough shot
in him to end his life. Jim got the
first dive at the other one. and stabbed
him in the neck. Sue was by his side,
and put the old butcher knife behind
one of his ears. That settled the bust
ness. Poor Jake was nearly dead; in
deed, they picked him up unconscious.
He lived for about a month, but the
strain had been too great, and he died
from the effects of the fight. The rest
of the pack were killed by the neigh