Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-07-18
BESIEGED BY WOLVES.
A Plucky Boys Fight with the
Hungry Animals.

11u14Sl ALAl4ldAS'
Jack Linton, at sixteen years of age,
was as sturdy a lad as YOU would find
in a days journey. Reared upon a new
farm in the heart of the forest, where
it was necessary often to supplement
the products of the field by the game
which abounded in the neighborhood,
he was an expert shot with the rife,
cool and plueky.
The Linton's home was a humble log
cabin. For the sake OF warmth it was
banked with earth nearly up to the two
small windows, one in the front and
one in the south end, which lighted the
interior.
The winter after Jacks sixteenth
birthday vas very stormy. So deep
was the snow that the numbering par
ties working some eight or ten miles
further in the woods had hard work to
keep the postage road open. This road
ran directly through Linton's clearing
which was fortunate for him; for,
being the last settler in the concession
and more than a mile from the nearest
neighbor, he would otherwise have
found it nearly impossible to keep the
road broken. As it was, he had a con-
slant fight with the snow; but it was
not altogether an Improbable one, as
the lumbermen paid him for keeping a
way shoveled through the great drifts
that formed in lis clearing.
In the month of January one of the
''postage" teams brought in word that
Mrs, Unions mother, who lived at the
nearest railway station, twenty-eight
miles distant, was seriously i'll and
wished to see her daughter. Mr.. Linton,
having some business matters to see to,
determined to go with her. So one
bright, frosty morning they set out to-
gether, with a promise to make an early
start the next day for home.
There was not a sign Of a storm at
the time, but soon after noon heavy
clouds obscured the sky and the snow
began to descend, By sunset fully six
inches had fallen; and as darkness set
in the wind arose and drove the light
snow in clouds before it.
Father and mother will have a hard
time to get home said Jack, as he
came in from the stable. where he had
been to milk the cows and feed them
and the sheep; THE wind almost blew
me over"
Wen be all right won't we. JACKIE"
asked Kittie, timidly, as She set the
milk pans on the table.
"Of course" answered Jack. stoutlv.
''There's nothing to hurt us, and we've
plenty to eat and lots of wood. In the
morning I'll 20 and shovel ont the
road"
After supper Jack barred the door.
put the shutters to the windows and
heaped the fireplace full of maple locs
which would burn without SPARKLING
Then they all went TO bed. Jack sleen.
ing downstairs 10 keen the little mos
company.
The clock on the kitchen shelf was
striking four when Kitty awoke. Baby
was restless and she had lust soothed
her to sleep, when A dismal cry came
from out of doors.
Jack. Jack.nshe exclaimed. s.wbat,s
tbat?"
Her brother sat IN in an instant pe
had been asleen. bnt ALWAYS
ouicklv.
That's only the wind.nb he answered
..Nlv. how it howls.n
..yes. That's the wind. bpt 7 dor,t
mean that. Listen, There II ;s - Che
added. after a pause. as a long drawn
howl came from before the window II
was a sound to make tbe blood RIM
cold. beginning with n short bark and
ending with a MERGING vail II was
followed bv a noise as of scratching on
the roof. Jack spranp ont Of ned and
had his clothes on in an instant
"Wliat do YOU suppose IL lisp" asked
kitty in an oyyed xyhisner
~ don, Lpoy - was Tho hoarso +,
svar .Soma animal ~ oorrsa ava
lack ran into ,be kitchen nc no snoLo
The scra,ch;ng ON the roo, oon,;puad
and now another how, was board
u,h;oh sooaad ~ 49, n'
tbe ch;mney as tbough ,ha hssst r.s
sas,amn,at, ,ta VOC
nm on,ranao 10, wan LII u 80 .hs
IL M 'u' "as, oach seizeu 'ne
NV "'aso II
Of ,na,hs ava a. nV .eI
no;In an ,ha ~aas ;nSian' ant . ~