The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-21
THE RED WOLVES.

i
We lighted fire TO cook our supper,
which consisted of turtles that Pepe bad
brought from the nsighboriug marsh, and
whicn were laid on the embers shell side
down, after vi ich the scales could To very
easily taken OF
We made miserable meall-the flesh of
the turtles was execrabla, it had strong
taste of mud
Supp,r over, we proceeded to make our
for the night
In the vicinity OF the marshes, and nos
outstanding that the warm season had
come, the nights were cool; it was there
fore decided tlat the fire should be kept up
until the next morning-a matter easy
enough, since the jariilas among which we
We're camping, are shrubs of SO resinouS o
nature that they feel sticky to the touch,
and that even the green wool burns with II
brilliant flame
For another reascn also We deemed it OBJ
lisatory to keep the Ire UP all night; it was
necessary foc our pei ,onal Safety, inasmuch
rs We were liaole to he attacked by beasts
of prey, which are very common in tins
part of America.
1t was agreed as usual. that Charles
htcp "tAth w 'AP 49, wv A-'''St
and then LUZ
Our horses were tethered to the stunted
trunk OF a willow standing some twenty
yards away; then We wrapped ourselves in
our ponchos, and with our feet turned
toward the fire, we slept sleep well earned
by ten hours OF slow but continuous travel
But the seepers were not more tired than
the watchers Charles feeling himself com
ial 70 al g. .I,n Ia
LUZ, who naturally continued to snore
while the fire diei down for wapt OF fuel
We had been sleeping quietly when, about
II O'Clock, We were suddenly Weakened
by a prolonged and plaintise cry; we
sprang to our feet, and instinctively rushed
to our guns-all except Miguel, vino was
stirring up the ashes in the hope of finding
one live ember
Then several other cries just like the dr5t
were heard, but nearer.
They sounded like the bowling of wolves,
1--WE are lost~ TRANQUILITY observed our
guide; those are red wolves"
In the mouth of Barleio those three
words, we are lest" had terrible signitl-
cation; they were Equivalent to sentence of
| death Whether 1t was natural coolness, or
| the hahitual Indifference gained by an ad-
| venturouS life, do not know, but We made
our preparations of defense with all the
calm of men who are not overweightei by
the prospect of death
| The howlings continued; they steadily IN
creased in volume as they drew nearer; in
little while they suddenly redoubled at a
short distance from the camp
We felt especially anxious about our
horses, Armed with our hunting guns,
which we hal charged with buckshot, we
we're on the point OF approaching the poor
animals, which we could see trembling all
over by the moonlight, when the vaqueano
requested us to do nothing of the kind.
Don't bother yourselves about them" he
exclaimed stand all right there in front
of Miguel who is trying to start the fire;
that is our only chance OF safety. Silence
now and be careful not to shoot until tell
your
At that moment dozen wolves sprang
out of the cover before us their eyes glowed
in the night like burning charcoal
Eli what hawSeneles!" cried the in
corrigabls sailor Loannec; look, Miguel
there is something to light your fire with "
/ struck the sailor ON the back of the neck
as means of reminding him Of the order
given; he held his peace.
| Meanwhile, after moments hesitation
the wolves approached our horses, which
began to perform n singular maneuver,
Pressing closely against one another, will
their heads all turned to n common center
the willow tree to which they had been
tied, they formed a ring; motionless pre-
senting their Groups to the enemy, they
awaited the attack.
The wolves began to turn around the liv,
ing circle-iirst at cautious distance
then nearer and nearer-anl all at one,
they leapei at our steps
But they had reckoned without thei
hosts
At the same moment that the wolve
leaped, our horses all together, as if moved
by one sprin3-suddenly gave a terrific
kick; the assaIlauts were flung ten yard
away, and rolled on the ground, utterin ,
another kin of howl-siranger aud fun
ereaL
1t seemed as if they were calling TO
help
What d magnificent kick cried Loan
nee, with admiration
That howl is a call said Barlejo, thu
explaining TO Us the difference We had al
ready noticed in the way our enemie
| ubNicl. III a tibAlS HbliC We Will AdNS III
whole pack on Us
Barlelo was not mistaken.
Other howls responded 10 the bowls of tn
wounded wolve5, and salmost immediatel
we saw about fifty rGshing in our direl
ton
Fire" commanded The valueano
The new arrivals were received with
voIley, Immediately followed by another
] Ia
tered in all directions with horrible veil
ings 1t was the signal for the general il
yasion. All the IN lerbrush which SCENE
50 litelesS little while before, now az
pea ed one enormous lair OF wild beast,
III, bit aud left, and in front, new pack
came rushing into the open space of whic
We unfortuuAtey 1cupied the center, S
that our enemies were able to surround u
\olley followed voiley, but uoive
ever su ce1Ae1 to wolves Every discharg
carr led death into the mass of wild beast.
but every cry OF death brought u new pac
TO the scene The ground was covered wit
their carc3 ,s.,s; suIue had been riddled b
our hucksh0t oiuer, KILLED by our horse
Men aud beasts defended themselves: V,
the more nunierJus the yictiIn4 the NOR
| uumetu1s als9 seemed u beuume the assai
ants.
We expects I, hure them upon Us ever
second evid uty We should never be adj
to overcome the hungry pack who only +,
| treated IRON ihe very flash OF our volleY
few minutes more and We should all /
ievoured
Meanwhile We kept On iiring-with bucl
shct, small-shoi bail we hardly knew wha
We we're doing our brains seemed TO boi
We were at tn very Waite heat of excit
a meut, as for myself, thou hit shoul
90 mad.
Luckiiy Mi 5uel hii succee led in rekin
ling the tlre
@ tel behind nIw,' cried Barle 10; "b,
e take care not to turn your backs and ket
9 Oh firing"
! Obelient to the orders oil the vaQueln
i, we reiterated slowly, firing buckshot ali Il
! while .
I stop tirins!n
y At the same time Miguel and Barle
!, threw in front OF us two blazing fago.
e from the vicinity of which the wolves
once beat a hasty retreat
In few minutes we were surrounded /
about ten boniires While the two grauch'
= Al