Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-05-06
81 knew well that Tige would never

II knew well that Tige would never
give up while there was life in him.
but began to fear that life would not
be in him long. They rolled over and
over, snarling, yelping, tearing; but
the dog was getting the worst of it.
"YOu can hardly imagine my ex-
element as | realized that such was
the case. l ran towards them with
my gun presented. but their motions
were so quick and their changes of
petition SO sudden, that it was almost
impossible to get chance at the wolf
without endangering Tge.
81 fred, but could not see that the
shot took the least effect. Probably
my care for-the doa caused me 20 rais=
the mark. No success Of mine, how
ever, could have helped poor Tige.
He was too far gone for that. Almost
at the moment Of my firing. the wolf
left his four footed victim and came
rushing directly upon me. l let drive
the other barrel, but that made no
difference. His eyes looked like Goals
Of fire; and | could see the whole o!
his teeth at once. for the lips were
drawn away from the red gums the
entire length of the jaws. He was
very long from head to tail, and taller
than ths tallest dog. Tie hair Of his
spine stood up like hedgerow. and
he was covered with blood from his
encounter.
If ever my thoughts flew fast, it
was then. saw not the shadow of a
chance for life. There, in the snow, !
must be torn to pieces by tina: fright
ful timber wolf Brief as the time
was, thought OF home, and wondered
what my wife and babies would do
without me. At such a moment one
sees his position as if it were revealed
10y Hash OF Lightning. 1t is all i'm
printed upon his brain in an instant
II sprang little aside, dubbed my
gun, and swung it around my head
with all the force Of despair. 1t came
down somewhere upon the wolf. Just
where it hit him | don't know; but |
10 know that The breach broke short
off. and flew fifty feet.
The blow helped me little, but
not much. got time to use the part
that remained in my hand, and re-
member now with what a sound the
steel barrels came down on that ugly
shape. You will hardly believe me,
but they were fairly bent! What
did he care for it +? Just nothing.
Oh, it was awful-for | saw that
cou:d do TO more.
In another moment | should have
been down. in the snow, with the big
Jaws tearing me limb from limb.
Il try to think now how it was that
| first knew there was help at hand.
| try to remember Just how l felt and
what thought, but / cannot. It
seemed as if thunderbolt shot by me;
and then, all at once, ! realized that
the wolf had other business.
The biggest dog that l had ever
seen had fastened upon the beast, as
much as to say, Take some one of
your size and they were struggling
and tum5ling and Juggling together.
The snow was torn up till it almost
buried them, and blood and hair flew
on all sides.
i could DO nothing but stand and
look on. Once o. twice thought the
wild creature would be too much for
the tame one. But again the great
dog would put forth all his tremen-
dous strength, and the old Wolf would
so down. Oh, how | wanted to help
that dog How grateful l felt to him !
AT length the enemy weakened. l
could see it. l knew that he had got
more than his match. He turned TO
run, but the dog was instantly upon
him. Again they strained and tugged.
tearing up another square rod of snow.
But this time the fight was all one
way. The dog was as active as ever,
while the Wolf had lost much Of his
power and courage.
In a minute or two | saw that the
wolf was down for good. He had
given up every attempt to defend HIM
self, and the dog was tearing at his
throat in way that must soon finish
him.
1t was not till he was quite gone,
however, that his conqueror would let
hip alone Then, to my surprise. the
dog turned to me, and began pulling
at my coat as if to lead me away.
AT first resisted. not knowing
what to make of it; but he pulled me
along in spite of myself.
1t occurred to me az lsnSth that he