The Red Cloud chief., 1882-06-22

| Saturday afternoon arrived. and. the
sap not flowing very freely. MI. lnskip.
| with all employed. except his son . lad
| of fifteen. and = lass his junior by some
two years. left the camp for their re-
spcciive homes. Harold being charged
by his father 10 ''look sitter things" and
start with Jennie for home before sun
down"
IAN right" replied Harold, Jennie
and I will be NJ the Hill by the time
it is dark. anyhow. II IL Is three miles.
| for you know we are both good walk.
crs." And as Mr.. Inskip and party
disappeared in tho forest. he fell TO
work righting affairs in the camp with
| the assistance Of Jennie Mcmillan. q
bright haired. buxom and brave little
girl. adopted as a daughter into the In
skip family. n ~fayorite with all. and,
perhaps. particularly so with Harold.
But there vas more To arrsngc than
was expected. and the sun had set and
twilight come N. and the great forest
through which they had 10 pass doomed
| mp black, and the sky Wa hidden bY
clouds threatening TO deprive them both
Of moon and starlight, while they had
only a :" blazed'' path Ia follow through
the dense aud dark woods. IL Wa not
q pleasant walk in prospect for Jennie
and Harold, but thus far in their bright
and sunny lives they had learned moth
ing Of fear. Their hearts were innocent,
and guilt alone hath dread "of things
seen and unseen"
Come. Jennie said Harold. "ali
is ready now To start, and l shall take
my AK along"
But you don't want it at home To-
night. audit j. 80 heavy viii get tired
carrying it; besides you will want il here
on Monday" urged Jennie.
That's true, but ! don't mind its
weight; then some straggier might drop
into camp aud steal il. o. yes, I'll take
it with me-" aud throwing IL on his
shoi .lder, and clasping Jennie's hand in
his. they walked out of the dying camp
fires light into the gloom Of the dark
ness. and one following them at a rods
distance could not have d~iscerned their
outlines; and for n few minutes they
were rs mute as the gigantic pOplars
and black walnuts. between whose
trunks they CROPPED their way.
30. Harold. isn't this a ~dreadfully
dark nighi?" asked Jennie, in an under
tone. as If fearful Of disturbing the aw-
full hush above and about them.
"Yes. Jennie: but it won't be long
until we reach that bit Of prairie that
runs into the wood. and then we will
have some light. You don't feel afraid.
do you?' and Harold pressed her hand
cncouragingly.
:. No, but then, Harold. / though
just nowhere. bark! don't you hear?
There's something following us?' and
Jennie drew up closed TO the side of her
companion, who. pushing her quickly TO
the front, stepped back. and, peering
into the darkness, saw but a few feet
distant a black object.
~ see it," he replied. "it's only the
big black dog that neighbor Houston
brought from Pennsylvania last week.
I'll call him. Here, Carlo. CONT herc.'
As the supposed Newfoundland
deigned no answer in any manner,
Harold remarked: Hes n surly brute.
Wen let him alone. Come, Jennie,
well 90 ahead" and putting her arm
through his, they moved forward. oc-
~casionally looking behind, and always
finding that the intruder on their attcn-
ton was still keeping them company.
At last the little space Of prairie vas
reached. At the point where their path
crossed its pcninsular shape, it was not
more than a couple of hundred yards in
width. and the high grass and dead
leaves had bccn beaten Ia the ground by
the heavy now of the past winter.
Having emerged from the thick gloom
of tn. xpn,I tnfn tho oman l,,vhf nf thu
moon, which at that moment shone
through u rift in the clouds, Harold
turned To look at their four-footed
companion, just as. half in shadow.
half in light. il crouched backward and
uttered n yell that rang out over the
prairie. and echoed through the forest,
and curiled the blood in the veins of
the young sugar-makers.
Involuntary Harold's hand swung
his AK into the air. and recovering him
self in an instant from his surprise and
horror. he sprang forward. his uplifted
weapon cleaning in the ~moonbcams,
and seeming no weightier than n child's
Ratchet in his grasp.
do not rum" he cried TO Jennie;
"'tis n black wolf, and there are Others
in the forest To whom he is calling. Ii
we run. we are lost. Perhaps | may
frightcn him away and with that he
rushed ut the beast, whose ewes glared
ut him with an indescribable fury.
But the attempt was abortive; the
shaggy and ravcnous wolf only retreat
cd TO the bushes skirting the open
ground. and when Harold and his
frightened ward resumed their walk. il
boldly came out. and by the time they
!, reached the opposite wood had ap.
preached SO near that. fearing it would
leap upon them. Harold again sprang al
the savage creature, brandishing his az
|, in its very face. Finding that il could
T do nothing safely alone, the wolf now
: set up a series of appalling yells that
filed their hearts with terror and in.
| creased the anxiety of Harold, who
knew that if the apparently haf-fam.
ished animal vas reinforced by one OF
= two of his fierce species, they would no,
: hesitate to make an attack. II they
, could only have time before the sum
moned succor came, they would reach
; 1.-The Hilr' in safety; but it WAS still 8
: full mile and a half distant. and a deep
r ravine was To be crossed on a rude
, bridge not more than five feet in width.
and this spot might be called the battle.
: ground. in case assistance came to their
purSuer.
Harold thought of this contingency
. with alarm. The ravine was deep and
r dark, and on q narrow. unbalustraded
bridge. the odds in n struggle would all
, be in favor of the wolves. He said moth
!, ing in regard to his anxiety. but urged
: with calmness the necessity of increas-
Z ing their rate of speed, determined. il
: possible. TO pass the dreaded spot before
. help arrived for their persisting and
! bloodthirsty enemy.
Jennie" he said. II have not heard
! any answers to those horrid yells; bu,
let us walk faster. and then il they do
, follow US to The Hill.' why. YOU see, ]
/ will give one of them at least. and tina;
is this old black villain behind us, n bull
! let that viii make You re-christen Kill
buck and call it .kill-Wolf.'"
r. sks. l.s~ xs -~-.l A