The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-16
on a little way further.

But it was of no use. 1t would
have been as much as any strong
man in perfect health, without any
thing to cucumber his powers, could
have done to hold his own against the
difficulties Of the road that night
and handicapped as Scott was by the
charge Of the worn-out lad, and the
fact that they had lost the track, he
was simply compelled to give up the
j attempt, at least until dawn broke
over the eastern sky. It began to
grow horribly cold, yet, chilled to the
bone as both were, Scott would not
have dared to run the risk Of lighting
a fire, had materials for doing so been
to hand, which they were not. There
fore he dragged Slingsby close under
the scanty shelter afforded by big
stone, over which he had come such a
cropper as to determine that longer
struggle would be worse than useless,
and, putting his arm around him, to
give him all the warmth and rest
possible under the circumstances,
ventured to fill and light his pipe.
Young Slingsby promptly went to
sleep, and Scott puffed away, warm
ing his fingers at the bowl Of his pipe
every now and again. wishing, as he
thought over the events of the day,
that he had been able to pot one or
two more Of the agreeable gentlemen
who had placed them in this pleasant
situation.
The pipe went out by-and-by, and
Scott filled it anew. What a good
thing baccy was, he thought, and
what pity the poor lad sleeping so
heavily upon his shoulder could not
avail himself Of its comfort! They
called him Baccy in the regiment,
because he never had been able to
master the noble art of smoking.
Poor young Baccy! Scott had liked
the lad immensely from the first day
he joined. It is probable that had he
been able just then to get speech Of
the so-called Army Reformers-those
who have put book-learning in a
superior place to the training of bone
and muscle-those wise gentlemen
might have experienced a new sensa-
ton.
He was still putting slowly at his
pipe, and young Slingsby still slept
heavily, when, suddenly, there was
terrific howl within few yards which
caused the sleeping lad to spring up,
shaking violently in every limb.
'Good God, Scott! What's thatp"
he cried.
Nothing, nothing; go to sleep
again" Scott answered soothingly.
sit must be a iackal," Slingsby per-
sisted.
"Oh, no; only a hyena after some
dead horse or camel lying about"
"But it wasn't the least bit like a
hyena," Slingsby objected, as the
howls rang out again upon the still
ness of the night air. "It's a jackal,
and jackals are beastly things-worse
than wolves"
"Nonsensew Scott laughed. $50
to sleep"
81 can't sleep with that brute
prowling about. Strike light, Scott
| believe it's close to u.s.
Thus hidden, Scott struck match,
holding it up so that the feeble flame
should cast its rays as far as possible;
and sure enough there, through the
darkness, yard or two in front Of
them, were two great angry cleaning
eyes.
where's my revolver?" muttered
Slingsby, trying to free his arm.
The older man caught his wrist.
''For Heavens sake, don't frer' he
cried. "Do you want hundred or
two Of those miserable villagers down
upon us? The brute probably won't
come near us, whatever it is; and, if
it does, it will be time enough to fire
then, if stone won't settle it.
AS he spoke, he picked up a stone,
which he sent flying in the direction
where the eyes had been. There was
the sound Of thud, it having chanced
to hit the brute, followed by terrific
bowling and growing.
HE will keep clear of us for the
present" observed Scott, with satis-
faction.
They subsided into silence once
more; but though after while Scott
fell asleep with his head resting
against the big stone, Slingsby had
been too thoroughly awakened to
close his eyes again that night, and
he lay very, very still and watchful,
his hand on his revolver, ready to fire
at a moments notice. True, the
bowling had ceased, and all was pro-
foundly still. Then his straining
ears heard a rustling and shifting at
some short distance, as if the jackal,
hyena, or whatever the brute with the
glaring eyes might chance to be, were
smelling his way towards them.
Nearer and nearer it came, receded,
grew closer still. Slingsby's heart
began to beat furiously, and he
levelled his revolver. Then he felt
hot breath upon his face, felt the
hrute's feet resting upon his leg, saw