The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-06-13


darteG to the tree which Gideon was
trying TO reach, ran up its trunk and
took Il position in the fork of large
| branch.
1t was not an inviting prospect to try
to "shin up" the tree in the face Of the
angry animal glazing down with round,
| yellow eyes, but there was worse behind
him, so clasping the tree with arms and
| legs Gideon mounted aloft at q speed
that surprised himself. He moved none
too quickly, for as he made his last shuttle
upward and secured a hold on the lower
limbs, the foremost wolf arrived, and a
! pair Of jaws snapped together just be-
low the schoolmaSter's coat tail with a
click like the shutting Of steel trap.
BY the time Gideon had settled himself
| securely among the branches four or five
wolves were jumping at him.
He would have felt safer a notch high
er among the branches had it not been
for the unpleasant creature above him,
which Kissed and spit whenever he
shifted his position. At the foot of the
tree the wolves howled and CRASHED
their teeth. They had been Joined by
others, increasing their number to seven,
all impatient for supper.
n newcomer now appeared upon the
scene large, black animal, which
crushed through the snow crust heading
straight for the tree. Gideon saw that
it was bear, and gave himself up for
lost.
He'll climb the tree sure, he thought,
'and then where'll be-"
The wolves did not at first appear in
clined to meddle with the great creature.
which numbered along as if he did not
care for anything that might be in his
path. As he came near them, growing,
they for moment gave way before him,
lcaping to the left and right. Then one
snapped at him from the rear, which
seemed to give the Others courage, and
all together they sprang upon him. |
Gideon blew his born loudly in the hope /
to brighten the big animal from taking !
refuge in the tree. There ensued free |
for-all fight, a tumbling mass of gray
andback fur, but the bear broke away |
from his foes and reached the foot of the |,
tree.
Snow, he's coming up" said the I'M
fortunate musician to himself, without /
ceasing to tOot his horn. Ats good-by
me-"
But the bear had other plans. In the
rocky ground, the main roots of the tree
growing over two or three nearly buried
granite boulders had lett a hole which
the decay of the trunk had further en-
larged. In this cavity the bear had taken
up winter quarters and he was now at
his own threshold. Rearing with his
back against the tree he SPARED like a
boxer, knocking the two foremost wolves
prawling; then dropping on all fours he
defended himself with his forepaws as
lie was backed into his den.
81 wonder what critter'll head for this
rec next" he groaned. "They don't
Gem to know of any other place to
70 to. There. Ones a-coming now
is from the sky this time"
A huge form came booming through
he air toward him, with tapping wings
md four kicking legs. Gideon twisted
lis legs around the branch, braced him
elf hard and blew his loudest note. At ,
he sound the great horned owl winging
lis way homeward with rabbit in his
laws changed his course so as to avoid
he tree and went his way into the ,
darkness I
The schoOlmaster noticed another good &
fleet of his horn blowing. At the first {
otes the loupcervier had run up the tree +
S far as he could 20, and from the top
lost fork, with only his head showing, S
BOXED as disguised and frightened as '
he fororn human being did dozen {
eet below him. Gideon found his perch :
hard and chilly one. His legs '
'ere cramped and he was generally un- '
comfortable. But he could see no pros I
ect of quitting it until daylight might S
ring relief, unless indeed, before that
me arrived, he should become be- &
umbed and fall among the wolves. S
There was little likelihood that peo- i
lie would be moving on the road at that /
our, but on the bare chance that a l
lmber team might pass Gideon kept on t
lowing his horn. From time to time =
e varied his calls of distress by falling
ito the strains of practice tunes. Then
keep from getting benumbed he would
ap his sides with his hands and kick
lgorously. The wolves, now nine in c
lumber, were all the time moving about q
eneath him, with their eyes on the un-
Apply musician up tree" |
n bright idea for warming himself and
eeping his heart up struck the SILVER t
g schoolmaster, who had some matches y
his pocket. Tearing from the tree h
unk a sheet of dry birch bark, he b
'lled it into funnel-shaped-t torch and n
GIFTED it. making q cheerful illumina- "
on. When it burned down near his 8
lgers it served to kiudle fresh roll, Ii
hich he made ready. This went on n
ntil his fifth torch was burning low, e