Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-12-10
Unto Death,

Look |
a gaunt, shambling wolf which has
been making erratic circles on the pral-
rie suddenly stops, lifts his nose high
above the grass, aud 5nutfS the aiT III
every direction.
HaTk
A long-drawn howl-a sound which
rasps OH your nerves and brings a chill.
The honest growl of the tiger would be
music in comparison. 1t has no honest
echo, but you hear the r-r-r-r-r sneaking
across the half-mile of prairie TO find
evil company in the thickets beyond.
See
The echo is hardly lost in the pines
before it is caught up and sent back
from a dozen throats, and a moment
after a pack of wolves break cover and
race across the grass to join the lone
animal which sent forth the rallying
call.
Skulking malignant - devilish
There are beasts which will look yoI
square in the face. The wolf nevel
does. Restless eyes-uneasy bodies
lolling tongues-yellOw fangsl
There they go
The pack head across the prairie tC
the south, shifting at the summer breeZe
as they run, and at each long leap theil
eyes grow tiercer and clOtS of foam fly
from their red mouths TO blOtch the
velvet grass. 1t is trail they are fol
lowing, and the scent is fresh.
Come on
1t is strange sight which meets Oul
eyes. Lying stark and stiff on tht
prairie, fingers clutching the grass and
a look of agony on the face already
turning purple under the hot sun, IS the
body of a hunter. Dead? No need tC
ask that when YOU have seen the terri
ble hole i'll the breast, and the blood
which was welled out and soaked the
grass and changed the color of the
flowers. HIS rifle at his side-his pack
at his head, No accidentp Perhaps
yes-perhaps no. There is one who
could tell us if lie could but speak.
''Here, dog ~
LYING beside the dead-rislng quick
ly up as we approach-is the hunters
friend and companion-a grand old
dog. He looks straight into our eyes
If We have come to bury the dead with
kind hands, 1t is well. If We have come
to rob the master-bewaTe There i:
Courage and Fidelity and Determina-
ton.
Hush The dog wheels about and
faces the north. \ sound has reached
his ears which sets his eyes atlame and
raises every hair ON his back. Yelp
yelp yelpl 1t is the wOlves-the pack
which picked up the trail he had made
rs he went TO the north in search oi
water.
Now watch
There are twenty TO one, and the
scent OF the dead adds To their fierce
ness and daring, but rs they advance to
within ten PAGES of the dog every wolf
comes to stop. Standing with his
fore paws ON the breast of the corpse,
the dog growls a warning at each and
every one before him. lie could run
away and save his life, but the base idea
never comes . him. lie will tight thS
whole pack-he will die defending his
dead
See The wolves huddle together fol
a moment, rs If i'll consultation, and
then they break up and form a circle
about their victims. The dog wheel:
slowly, growing his wrath and utter
ing his defiance. Even now he could
break through and escape, but he will
not. OF sudden the leader of the
pack dasl.es at HIM, but he returns Il
the circle le-whipped- bleeding-venge,
full. His place is filled by three com.
panions, and for moment the corpse
is hidden from view and the uprOar Is
frightful.
Grand old dog They have tasted OF
his blood, but he has sent them crawl
ing back.
Again and again the charge was re-
newedhnd the assailants were driven of
until the early dawn crept over tht
mountain-top when the wolves retreat
ed, leaving the noble dog master of the
fieled.