Los Cerrillos rustler. (Cerrillos, N.M.) 188?-1891, 1891-07-17


dead. almost on the very threshold
Jack sprang within and shut the door.
bat At that instant = crash came AZ the
front room. aud the shutter. which had
o been very securely fastened. fell
upon the hoor. Kitty. turning 10 look
uttered q piercing Shrek There In
the unguarded window were the head
and shoulders of a wolf
Look. Jack. look" she screamed.
and running to the corner where baby
vas sitting, caught the little one In her
arms
Before Jack could get In range 81 the
window. the wolf sprang lightly In.
and the head n another appeared In
the opening. II was aeritical moment
There was no time for thought. and
prompted solely by that strange in
stinct which comes 80 often 10 our aid
in great emergencies. Jack aimed at
the beast In the window and fred. The
creature rave n howl Of pain aud Cell.
blocking the window almost complete
ly.
The Winchester was now empty. for
Jack had only put in three cartridges.
and. practically without means Of at
tack or defense, he stood facing the
wolf, which crouched In n skulking
way, as II more than half frightened at
its surroundings Gaining confidence
after a few moments, II begun TO
sneak forward. showing It's yellowish
fangs and moving its head from side to
side with each slow step.
Kitty, watching every movement of
her brother and the wolf from the
corner where she had placed baby for
safety, saw with surprise that Jack did
not raise the rifle.
why don't you shoot him, JACKIE"
she cried.
The rifles empty" he answered.
where's the AK. Kitty"
"Just behind you, by the door"
Jack stepped back slowly, watching
the wolf all the while; but the moment
he turned to pick up the ax the brute
sprang forward 10 seize Kitty.
The little girl screamed, crouched
down over baby to shield her from
danger. and closed her eyes Ia shut out
the sight OF the monster whose hot
breath She seemed almost to feel. The
great brute was nearly upon her, when
Jack, with all his young strength,
struck out with the ax. The blow was
almost a random one, but IL sent the
wolf across the kitchen, and gave Jack
time to place himself before Kitty.
Then, with a frightful snarl. the wolf
renewed the attack; but the lad was
ready, and received II with n blow so
telling that the beast turned and ran
back to the front ROOM, where II cow
cred In II corner, snarling, and showing
its fangs most wickedly. Jack saw his
advantage and was quick to follow II
up. Rushing forward, he got in n pow
erful stroke upon the brute's skull. and
followed it with a perfect rain of blows,
until the body Of the foe lay limp and
l~ifeless. Then he seized the fallen
shutter and fastened it securely, after
which he ran back into the kitchen,
caught Kitty and baby in his arms and
burst into tears. He was completely
unnerved, and after a few moments
fell upon the floor almost helplessly
weak.
Meanwhile matters were assuming a
new phase out of doors. On the way
out through the settlement, Mr.. Linton
had heard that a pack of wolves had
been seen the day before, and having
left his wife ut her mothers, had after
II short rest started on his homeward
journey. II had already begun to snow,
and in n short time the snow became
so fierce and the road so blocked with
drifts, that further progress with the
horse was out Of the question. So
stopping at n farmhouse he Sc
cured stabling for the animal, and, Dor
rowing n pair of snowshoes, set out
through the darkness and storm. II was
u hard tramp, a verJ hard tramp. SO
dark was 1t hat he could not distin-
guish the inequalities on the surface of
the snow, and had MANY falls in conse-
quence; but the thought that his chill
dren might be exposed to danger from
the wolves inspired him, and he plodded
On. The way seemed very long. When
within three miles of home, he saw
lights in the settlers houses and knew
that day was near ut hand. Knocking
ut the door OF the nearest, he vas
greeted with surprise by the owner.
whats the matter, Linton" he ex-
claimed? What are you doing here ut
this time of night? Nothing wrong
home, is there?"
Linton briefly explained.
''Oh yes, the wolves, " said the farm
or. THAT must be what | heard dur
ing the night"
(Which way were they going?" asked
Linton, earnestly.
up the road" was the answer.
Then 1t is as ! feared. They have
gone up to my place, and the children
IRE alone"
But, man, they cannot get into the
house"
al lra. l,,4 tha ohtlIrap ..ary eFa out