Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-07-18

9 hard tramp 3 very uaEu HaMP ~
dark was it that he could not distn-
guish the inequalities on the surface OF
the snow. and had many falls in conse-
ouence; 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 at hand. Knocking
at the door OF the nearest, he was
greeted with surprise by the owner.
"What's the matter, Linton" he ex-
claimedp "What are you doing here at
this time of night? Nothing wrong
home, is there?'
Linton briefly explained
''Oh yes, the wolves" said the farm
er. THAT must be what heard dur
ing the night"
(Which way were hey goingP" asked
Linton, earnestly.
up the road vas the answer.
Then it is as l feared. They have
gone up to my place, and the children
are alone"
But, man, they cannot get into the
house."
II know, but the children may go out
Of doors;" and, with these words, he set
out again.
Hold on, Linton. II you think
there's likely to be any danger I'll go
with you as soon as | get my rifle and
snowshoes."
But Linton was already on the way,
and his friend was some little time IN
overtaking him. To a suggestion that
he should ask other neighbors to Soin
them, he replied that he could not
~jTTaaittinehp,t cahRiisd at several hon better
seiEt d inf S"i fo drn' Wel haH hfa6f hhith'' we're
following him. They called him to
stop until they could join him, but he
made no answer 1t was daylight now,
and his keen eye detected red marks
on the snow around the house. The
sight almost crazed him; for he thought
the stains were made by the blood Of
his children. He was almost frozen
with horror as he advanced near
enough to see a dozen or more wolves
struggling over a body. 1t was in re-
atty that of the wolf which Jack had
shot as it stood looking in the win
dow; but to Mr.. Linton the only ex-
PLANTATION possible was that Jack had
gone out of doors for something, and
been seized by the furious wolves.
He ran toward the snarling, fighting
group without stopping to think that
he was absolutely unarmed. He would
doubtless have paid with his life the
penalty of his rashness, for two of the
brutes seeing him approach left the
others and came toward him with great
bounds; but two of his friends, seeing
the danger he was mourning, ran for
ward and with well-directed shots
stretched his ASSISTANTS dead in their
tracks. The other nen fired into the
struggling pack, and the brutes, sur
prised at the sudden attack, left the
body over which they had been fighting,
and running about twenty yards away
stood crowdedtogether, ahideous, snarl-
ing, wicked-looking group, furnish
ing a fair mark for rife shots, as
four bullets testified. Linton was now
able to recognize what it was over
which the wolves had been struggling,
and the revulsion of feeling on seeing
that it was one of their own species
was 20 great as to almost completely
him, and he reeled and would
have fallen had not one of his friends
supported him.
Kitty heard the rifle shots, but not
diyining what they meant was only the
more alarmed. Jack had sunk into a
heavy sleep. from which she aroused
him with difficulty; but once awake he
understood that aid was at hand.
Springing to his feet, he took up the
rifle, reloaded it, opened the door and
stepped out into the snow just in time
to see his father coming around the
great drift which had formed around
the south end of his cabin. At the
moment three wolves, which had
been skulking behind the stable, caught
Of Mr.. Linton and sprang to-
ward him. The other farmers were
not in sight, They had remained on
the other side of the house to drive off
the pack, and had not observed the
brutes at the stable. Jack was equal
the emergency. His nerves became
like iron. He raised his Winchester
and three shots rang out in quick sue
cession. The leading wolf gave a great
bound in the air and fell dead at Mr..
feet; the second crawled
away with a broken leg; the third
turned and made for the woods; but a
track of blood upon the snow showed
that the last shot also had reached its
mark. The rest of the pack, at least
those Of them which had not fallen be.
fore the busy rifles of the farmers, fed,
and all danger was p~ast.-Charles II.
Lugrin, in n. Y, Independent.