San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-17
CHAPTER xIII,-TEKEL's RETURN.

| manned more than three-quarters of the ram
killed by NJ Lafleur. The odor of the raw
| flesh attracted the wolves. They roamed
around the encampment despite Wab's
| growls and barkings, which were sometimes
| furious
NJ. Lafleur, always serviceable, accom-
panied by the dog of the Himalayas, went
| to the nearest thicket and brought back
| a number of branches with which to feed
| the fire.
The flames intimidated the wolves, the
| eyes of which could be seen shining in the
| distance. While Wab kept off some of
them, others more daring bore away the
| remains of the ram and made but u mouth
| full of them.
Soon the number of animals increased so
| greatly as to cause much uneasiness. At
| signal from Yegor general discharge OF
firearms was made in every direction.
Yegor and M. Lafeur fired several times
| and the little Pole blazed away with his
| two revolver. ,IAe chief of police, disabled
| by his wound alpl.I remained inactive.
The wolves hit ~ tho shot uttered lu.
| gubrious bowls, and the fugitives heard
them roll and twist upon the ground in the
| commissions of death. The others retired
short distance, but returned to the charge,
and it became necessary to repulse them
anew with balls.
| At last, they were again driven back. But
at daybreak they presented themselves in
| greater force than ever, ready to renew
their attack. Wrangling with each other,
they threw themselves upon the bodies of
their companions lying in the snow and de.
vOured them. This was but slight nOurish-
ment for so many famished animals.
Yegor and the others loaded their weap-
ons, thinking that the wolves, their appetite
stimulated by the raw flesh, would soon
leap upon them. Ladslas passed his re-
| volvers to Nadege and charged the carabine
| belonging to the chief of police. The latter
| grasped in his free hand an enormous spear
| Thus they waited, ready for whatever might
take place.
| Suddenly, on the summit of the rock
| against which Nadege's tent was erected
| appeared huge gray bear 1t descended
| heavily and went straight towards the
| wolves.
| The latter, disturbed at their feast, boldly
wheeled about. Then, the bear, retreating
few steps, placed its back against the
rock, squatted upon its launches, thrust
forward a wide-open, frightful mouth and
crossed its fore paws over its breast. AT
this defensive attitude, the wolves formed
a semi-circle about their adversary, pru-
IDENTIFY keeping several yards away.
Yegor and his companions were filled
| with amazement. After rapidly consulting,
they decided to let these animals come to
| blows before interfering; besides, it was
| necessary to economic the supply of pow.
| der
| The gray bear and the wolves continued
| to observe each other, but the thing was be-
| coming monotonous; the wolves seemed to
be inviting the bear to begin the combat.
| They We're trying to provoke it by growls,
| which certainly seemed to contain an ac-
| cusation of cowardice. The bear, without
departing from its calmness, was allowing
the ardor of its adverSaries to wear itself
out.
Finally, some of the bravest or most fam.
| ished leaped upon the hairy mass, which
| was as motionless as a rock. They threw
themselves ON the bear, attacking it in every
| direction.
Then the enormous beast began to lift its
| fore paws and, using them as clubs, struck
| right and left among it's assailants. Each
time one of its heavy paws descended a wolf
| fell with fractured skull.
| ''Shall we aid the auxiliary that has come
to us" said Yegor to NJ. Lafeur.
| The Partisan nodded his assent.
| The two friends, summoning all their
| courage, took position beside the bear. A
| few gun-shots made gap in the army of
| wolves; this was a useful diversion. For
| an instant the bear was frightened by the
reports, but it quickly recovered and SEEM
| ed to understand that help was being rem
dered it.
| The exasperated wolves, far from retreat
| ing, rushed in a body upon the bear; all
| which advanced openly with heads erect
| fell victims to the claws or teeth Of the
| formidable beast.
| Yegor and his companions looked out
| for the wolves which approached treacher-
| ously crouching to seize their terrible ad-
| versary by the stomach, spot but poorly
defended. The struggle soon grew fright
| full!
The bear hurled its innumerable foes afar
as fast as they arrived within its reach.
Those MORALLY wounded lay on the ground,
bowling and groaning; those which got of
with slight wounds fed as rapidly as posi-
BILE, A discharge of firearms accompanied
their retreat.
There were several assaults of this kind,
intrepidly sustained by the bear and its two
improvised auxiliaries. At last, the wolves,
seeing how many corpses of their number
lay upon the field of battle. totally relin-
pushed the struggle and disbanded.
The gray bear remained, impossible, as
tonished and in no way proud of its victory.
''Shall we attack IL in its turn}n asked