The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-25
Unto Death.
I<ooki

A gaunt, shanbling wolf which has
oeen MAKING erratie circles on the prai-
ne suddenly stops. lifts his nose high
above the grass, and snuff. The air in
every direction.
Hark.
a long-drawn howl-a sound which
/ rasps on your nerves and brings = chill.
| The honest growl of the tiger would De-
/ music in comparison. 1t has no honast
/ echo, but YOU hear the r-r-r-r-r sneak
ing across the haf-mlle of prairie 10
md evil company In the thickets be-
/ yond.
The echo Is hardly lost in the pines
before 1t is caught up and sent back by
q dozen throats. and moment allsr a
pack of wolves break cover snd rnee
across the grass to join the lone animal
which sent forth the rallying call.
Skulking- malignant-devilishi There
! are beasts which will look you square
in the face. The wolf never doe.
Restless eyes-unessy bodies-lolling
tongues-yellow faugs,
The pack head across the prairie 20
the South, shifting at the summer
breeze as they run. and at each long
leap their eyes grow fiercer and clots af
foam fly from their red mouths to hlotch
the velvet grass, II is trail they arc
following. and the scent IS fresh.
Come on
1t is strange sight which meets otv
eyes Lying stark snd stiff on tho
prairie. fingers clutching the grass and
look of agony on the face alrcadv
turning purple under the hot sun. is the
body of hunter. Deado 40 need 70
ask that when you have seen the terri
bic holo in the breast and the
blood which has welled ont and soaked
the grass and changed the color of the
flowers. His rifle lies at his side-his
pack at his head. No accident2 Per
haps yes-perhaps no. There Is o7a
who could tell us if he could but speak.
Here, dogr
Lying beside the dead-risinp quick
" up as we approach-is the hunters
friend and companion--a grand old
dog. He looks straight into our eyes.
Ii we have come to bury the dead with
kind hands, ii is well. Ii we have come
to rob the master beware, There il
Courage and Fidelity aud Determine
ton.
Hushl The dog wheels about and
faces the north. A sound has reached
his ears which sets his eyes atiamc and
raises every hair en- his back. Yelp!
yelpi yelp! 1t is the Nolves-the pack
which picked up the trail he rad made
as he went to the north in search -
water.
Now watch
There are twenty 10 one. and tho
scent of the dead adds to their tierce-
ness and daring, but as they advance
to within ten PAGES Of the dor every
wolf comes to a stop. Staining with
bis fore paws on tho breast of the
corpse. the dog growls Il warning al
each and every one before him. lie
could run away and save his life. but
the base idea never comes to him. He
will fight the whole pack-ho will die
defending his dead!
See! The wolves huddlc together for
moment. as if in consultation. and
then they break up and form circle
about their victims. The dog wheels
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 dashes at him, but he returns to
the whipped-bleeding g-venre-
ful. His place is filed hv 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 Placing his paw again on
the breast of the dead he growls def
ance to the last
1t is overt At q signal the whole cir
Gle closes in. aud the struggle is ended
and the feast begins. There IS tear
ing of fesh-a low growl OF satisfac-
tion-and It's scarcely five minutes be-
fore the last wolf has vanished from
sight, leaving only the stains of blood
on the grass for the vulturcs TO look
iowu on