The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-11-07

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was that should lose my reason.
One night about three weeks after
Harry's death l was wakened up by what
sounded like the distant bowling OF
some wild animals. For moment or
two the sound was lost Then it re-
turned louder than ever The next min
ute l remembered one of the men in the
service telling me when he heard 1 was
going to Pixies Peak to look out for the
coyotes. Coyotes are somewhat smaller
than tho ordinary wolf, and are called
by many people barking wolves, owing
to the peculiar nature Of their cries. l
had never heard them before. Ny
opinion was that the keen-nosed brutes
had scented Harry's body, and hsa come
to devour it. Instead of stopping at the
place where Harry was buried, they
made Decline for tho cabin. A series
of most diabolical yells announced their
arrival. Then 1 heard something
thump, thump against the cabin door.
The door was strong oak one, and,
felt confident, would resist any effort
they could make. However, to mako it
doubly secure pushed two great heavy
government chests against it. Suddenly
their bowls ceased. Breathlessly 1
awaited developments. So long did the
silence continue that began to think
that they had taken their departure. But
was mistaken, soon heard them upon
the roof. Before l had time to recover
from my establishment at this change
in their tactics heard one of the rocks
that held down the roof roll off to the
ground. Demonstration, l jumped to
my feet, believing nothing now would
keep them out. If they could roll off
one Of those rocks the boards Of the
roof would be nothing them. 1 picked
up gun that hung upon the wall, and
raised it toward the roof. Soon 1 saw
one of the boards begin to move; but
little at first, then more and moro until
the starlight was plainly visible through
the crack. Then it was suddenly
wrenched from its place, and dark OBJ
ject appeared in the aperture. l fired.
The same moment l was dashed violent
ly to the floor by something heavy COM
ing from the direction Of the roof. The
next thing l remembered was finding
myself lying upon the bed. To my sur
prise saw the cabin door was open, and
the sunlight streaming in. 1 started to
get up, but fell back exhausted. Won
dering what could be the matter, made
another attempt As l did so my heart
almost stood still at the sight of man
standing in the doorway. Could be
dreaming? l rubbed my eyes tremb-
lingly with my hands. The man, APP
parently divining my thoughts, said:
Don't be afeared; it amt no ghost
but it might have been if you'd shot
me that night, as you tried to-"
shot you?" gasped.
''Yes, shot me-" repeated the man;
land if l hadn't thrown you to tho floor
when l did you'd a shot me the second
time"
but the coyotes?" l asked.
Coyotes" repeated the man in
amazement; 'what do you mean?"
1 told him my story. He laughed
heartily.
''It warn't no coyotes or nothin' as
you heard. 1t war me and the other
fellows a-hollerin'. You see, we busted
both our lamps, and we were a-hollerin'
for you to mako some light so we could
see where the cabin war. You see, you
war clean out of your head with the
fever, and you imagined all them
things" He then told mo that l had
been lying i'll with fever ever since
that night, some three weeks in all,
and that l had been delirious the whole
time. While he was still talking two
other men came into the cabin.
That's nice way TO be a-treatin'
people as is sent to your rescue" spoke
up one of them. And after bein'
nearly frozen to death on the way"
added the other one.
MY rescue? What do you mean?" 1
inquired, not little puzzled.
Ain your name Harry?" asked the
first speaker.
no" said, sit isn't"
They all looked at one another
strangely. Then the same man said:
"Why, on the 9Th day Of February tel
egram came from a man up here a-sayin'
that the fellow as war a-stayin' with
him had got lost, and hisself war
a-dyin'."
February s." thought. at was the
day Harry died" In moment l saw
through it all. Harry's business at tho
telegraph instrument that morning was
explained. Getting awake while 1 was
taking away the wood from the door,
and not secing me, he had thought in
his delirium l was lost; hence his mes
sage to Colorado Springs 1t is still a
matter of wonder to the people out there
how the rescuing party ever got up the
mountain. 1t was feat never attempt
ed, much less accomplished, at that sea-
son of tho year.
Some time afterward l met the man
who had told me about the coyotes. He
laughed heartily when 1 related my ex-
perience. He said what he had meant
by coyotes were tho heas that fairly
swarmed up there at certain seasons of
the year. They were so big and bit so
hard that the men in the service nick
named them coyotes"
SinGularly Luminous Beetles.
The editor of the journal of the Roy