St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-05-20

half in light, 1t crOuched backward and |
uttered Il yell that rang out over the
prairie, and echoed through the forest,
and curdled the blood in the veins of
the Young Sugarmakers.
Involuntarily 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 moonbeams,
and seeming no weightier than a child's
Ratchet in his grasp.
do not run" he cried to Jennie;
"'tis black wolf, and there are others
! in the forest to whom he is calling. If
we run, we are lost. Perhaps | may
frightcn him away" and with that he
rushed at the beast, whose eyes glared
at him with an ndescribable fury.
But the attempt was abortive; the
shaggy and ravenous wolf only retreat
ed to the bushes skirting the open
ground, and when Harold and his
frightened ward resumed their walk, it
boldly came out, and by the time they
reached the opposite wood had APP
preached SO near that, fearing it would
leap upon them, Harold again sprang at
the savage creature, brandishing his AK
in it's very face. Finding that it could
do nothing safely alone, the wolf now
set up series of appalling yells that
filled their hearts with terror and in
creased the anxiety of Harold, who
knew that if the apparently haf-fam-
ished animal was reinforced by one or
two of his fierce species, they would not
hesitate to make an attack. If they
could only have time before the sum-
/. moned succor came, they would reach
1.-THE Hip in safety; but it was still n
full mile and half distant, and a deep
u 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 rayine was deep and
dark, and on a narrow, unbalustraded
bridge, the odds in a 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-
inc their rate of speed, determined. if
, possible, to pass the dreaded spot before
: help arrived for their persisting and
bloodthirsty enemy.
| "Jennie,'' he said, 81 have not heard
any answers to those horrid yells; but
let us walk faster, and then if they do
, follow us to The Hill, why, you see, l
, will give one of them at least, and that
is this old black villain behind US, a bull
let that will make you re-christen 'kill-
7 buck and call it 'kill-Wolf.' "
} To this Jennie family replied: ~
. II I,,,+ Io,, of
/ dreadful ravine. [ wish we were over
, it in safety. Listen! what was that?'
and, as she spoke. wild yells broke on
, their ears from two directions, and GER
tainly from no great distance. They
/ were answers, and announced help close
| at hand-help for the fangs eager to
fasten upon the Threats Of their anticl-
| pated victims.
' Harold's worst appreLensions were to
/ be realized; no source OF escape was
open, and yet the frail structure which
1 they had now reached might prove the
t means of their salvation. At the last
3 halt, to face the wolf, Harold had cut a
t stout hickory club, and, hastily sharp
: ening one end, he gave it to Jennie, tell
, inc her. in case of attack, to use it Wig
5 orously, keep close to his side, and by
no means to become separated from him
l in the fight.
e Before the middle of the bridge was
attained a fierce howl at the western
= end warned them that they were te
/ contend with the wolves in front as vel
e as in the rear.
"Stand firm! Do not move to either
3 side, Jennie" shouted Harold, as ne
n struck tremendous blow at the savage
E beast which leaped at his breast, and
. receiving the full force Of the keer
\ weapon, fell over the edge of the bridge
j. into the roaring torrent below them.
: "That rascal will trouble me nc
. more. Look out, Jennie. How many
r are in front of you? 1 can see two o.
v three here,'' and at that momen
: Harold was again beset by the infuri
q ated beasts, but dealt his blows sc
rapidly and with such effect that they
v could not reach his person. Standing
). with her back to Harold's, Jennie was
: bravely facing the foe, welding he
spear-like club, and striking to thu
: right and left, when suddenly she ex
: claimed:
y Harold, help! there are too many
y Oh, nv armr' Quick as lightning
!, flash, Harold turned, and with a blow
Z crushed the skull of the ferociou
! monster that had fastened his teetl
!. Z upon her left arm, and was striving tt
! drag her to the earth.
4 But they were not to be baffled o
: their prey thus easily, and the remain
. ing wolves, crashing their teeth ant
: uttering bowls OF rage, again dashe(
u furiously forward, their green eye
= flashing like baleful fires. Two had al
= ready been dispatched, yet the numbe
Il seemed increasing, and that gave then
:; renewed boldness. Harold felt tina
the strength of himself and his heroi
q little companion could not much longe