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

stopping every lew minutes 70 SNO q
mournful howl. There was nothing
for the young folks to do but await de
velopments. and this was very trying.
Once or twice Jack felt unable to en-
dure the suspense and started toward
the door. as if to go out, but at kitty's
pleading he abandoned the idea
At length Il glimmerof daylightc came
through the cracks in the front window
shutter. At times this would be OBJ
scured by a moving form, and at times
a loud sniiie wouldbe heard as one of
the beasts would put his nose to the
window and try to test by scent the
probable nature of the longed-for prey
within.
When this had happened three or
four times, Jack could stand it no long
er. He sprang to his feet, took down
the Winchester and dropped some cart
ridges into il. just at that moment a
sound of breaking glass came from the
window. and the next instant a VOLTS
nose was pressed close against a crack
in the shutter and he shifted the air,
furiously. With a bound, Jack reached
the window and, placing the muzzle of
the rifle an inch or two from where the
shadow obscured the light, pulled the
trigger. The report rang out; baby
screamed; even Kitty sprang to her
feet in surprise; but out of doors allWas
still for a moment Then arr snarls
Ht'o i1"|S@|tf Something. This CON
tinqed for a long time, and then came
neeIy. IL seetnod ae IL all danger was
passed.
There really never was any danger,
Kitty" said Jack; for they couldn't
get in the house. l guess they've all
gone now"
Yes" replied his sister, land it's
time we had breakfast" and she went
to the kitchen to begin preparations,
Had they been able to see what was
going on out Of doors, they would
scarcely have felt at ease.
At least thirty gaunt, gray creatures
surrounded the cabin and stable, their
appetites whetted by the blood of their
companion. which had fallen a victim
to Jacks rife. Most Of them had with
drawn a short distance from the house,
and were sitting upon the snow, as if
waiting for ONE demonstration on the
part Of the besieged. A few of them
were digging in the snow about the
stable door.
"While you're getting breakfast,
Lit+~ ri rN g,,t =, +la ~+,l1 - I'll
Jack.
'ob, don't go out just now" pleaded
his sister, 'Wait a little while"
well, I'll look out the window. any
way" he said; and, going back to the
front room, he cautiously took down
the shutter. The snow, which reached
nearly to the w~indow-sll, was blood
stained, and was trampled down over a
considerable area, with tufts of hair
scattered around. No wolves were in
sight. Hastily replacing the shutter,
Jack went to the south window, but
found that this had been completely
covered by a drift that had formed dur
ing the night,
Il guess it's all safe to go to the
stable, Kitty" said he; but I'll take
the Winchester with me-" and, rifle in
hand, he opened the door,
At the instant he stood in the door
way a huge wolf sprang toward him.
1t was not twenty feet distant. Jacks
heart seemed to rise in his throat, He
was sure it stopped beating: but his
presence of mind did not desert him.
Down dropped the rifle muzzle, out
rang the sharp report, and the gray
monster which had risen to a second
spring that, if not checked. would have
carried him fairly upon the lad. dropped
dead. almost on the very threshold.
Jack sprang within and shut the door,
but at that instant a crash came at the
front room. and the shutter, which had
not been very securely fastened, fell
upon the floor. Kitty, turning to look,
uttered a 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 of the
window, the wolf sprang lightly in,
and the head Of another appeared in
the opening. 1t was a critical moment.
There was no time for thought, and
prompted solely by that strange in
stinct which comes so often to our aid
in great emergencies, Jack aimed at
the beast in the window and fired. The
creature gave a howl of pain and fell,
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 a skulking
way, as if more than half frightened at
its surroundings, Gaining confidence
after a few moments, it begun to
sneak forward, showing its 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, Jack?"
she cried.
"The rifles empty" he answered.
where's the ak, Kitty?"
a. |
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 AK the brute
sprang forward to seize Kitty.
The little girl screamed, crouched
down over baby to shield her from
danger, and closed her eyes to 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 az. The blow was
almost a random one, but it 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 it with q blow SO
telling that the beast turned and ran