Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-04-08
Unto Death.


LOOK!
A gaunt, shambling wolf which has
been making cratic circles on the prai-
rie suddenly stops, lifts his nose high
above the grass, and snuffs the air in
every direction.
A long-drawn howl-a sound which
rasps on your nerves and brings 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 sneak
ing across the half-mile of prairie to
find evil company in the thickets be-
yond.
The echo is hardly lost in the pines
before it is caught up and sent back by
a dozen throats, and q moment after a
pack of wolves break cover and race
across the grass to join the lone animal
which sent forth the rallying call.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.! There
are beasts which will look you square
in the face. The wolf never does.
Restless eyes-uneasy bodies-lolling
tongues-yellow fangs!
The pack head across the prairie to
the South, shifting at the summer
breeze as they run, and at each long
leap their eyes grow tiercer and clots OF
foam fly from their red mouths to blotcf
the velvet grass. It is trail they are
following, and the scent is fresh.
Come on!
1t is strange sight which meets our
eyes. Lying stark and stiff on the
prairie, fingers clutching the grass and
look of agony ON the face already
turning purple under the hot sun, is the
body of hunter. Deadp No need to
ask that when you have seen the terri
BILE hole in the breast, and the
blood which has welled out and soaked
the grass and changed the color of the
flowers. His rifle lies at his side-his
pack at his head. No accident? Per.
haps yes-perhaps no. There is one
who could tell us if he could but speak
"Here, dog!"
Lying beside the dead-rising quick
" up as we approaches the hunter
| friend and companion-a grand ole
dog. He looks straight into our eyes
If we have come to bury the dead will
kind hands, it is well. If we have come
| to rob the master-beware! There Ii
Courage and Fidelity and Determine
ton.
Hush! The dog wheels about anc
faces the north. A sound has reached
his ears which sets his eyes aflame anc
raises every hair on his back. Yelp
| yelp! yelp! 1t is the wolves-the pacl
which picked up the trail he had made
as he went to the north in search o
water.
Now watch!
There are twenty to one, and thu
scent of the dead adds to their fierce
| ness and daring, but as they advance
| to within ten PAGES of the dog ever.
| wolf comes to stop. Standing will
his fore paws on the breast of tn
corpse, the dog growls a warning a
each and every one before him. Ill
could run away and save his life, bu
| the base idea never comes to him. IL
| will fight the whole pack-he will di
defending his dead!
See! The wolves huddle together TO
a moment, as if in consultation, ant
| then they break up and form circl
about their victims. The dog wheel
slowly, growing his wrath and utter
| ing his defiance. Even now he coul.
| break through and escape, but he will
not. OF sudden the leader OF tn
| pack dashes at him, but he returns t.
| the Observation-Disclosures
full. His place is filled by three com
panions, and for a moment the corps
| is hidden from view and the uproar i
frightful.
Grand old dog! They have tasted Q
his blood, but he has sent them crawl
| ing back. Placing his paw again o.
| the breast of the dead he growls def
ance to the last.
It is over! At a signal the whole cir
| Gle closes in, and the struggle is ende'
and the feast begins. There is tear
ing of fesh-a low growl of satisfac
| tion-and it is scarcely five minutes be
fore the last wolf has vanished iron
| sight, leaving only the stains OF bloo
OF the grass for the vultures to loo
| down on.