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

"NeA That's the wind. but I don't
mean that Listen, There Il H. she
added. after . pause. = = long drawn
howl eame from before the window. II
was = sound 10 make the blood run
cold. beginning with = short bark and
ending with = piercing wall II was
followed by a noise ~ Of scratching 81
the roof Jack sprang out of Dcd aud
had his clothes ON In an instant
"what do you suppose IL -? asked
Kitty. In an awed whisper.
Il don't know. wa the hoarse an.
swer. 'Some animal. of course and
Jack ran into the kitchen A. he spoke.
The scratching ON the roof continued,
and now another howl was heard.
which seemed 10 CONS directly down
the chimney, a though the beast was
contemplating the chances OF efecting
an entrance that way. Jack seized the
poker. stirred the fire into n blaze and
threw ON some dry sticks A shower
of sparks and flame assembled. and the
noise ON the roof indicated that the
visitor. whatever Il was. had been
driven back by this unexpected greet
ing. IL half slid. half jumped 10 the
great drift. which at the north end Of
the house reached the caves. Then IL
gave a more frightful howl than ever,
and an answering chorus Of banks and
bowls eame from all sides OF the cabin.
81 believe it's wolves, said Kitty.
That's what I think, replied Jack.
well, they can't getin, that's one com
fort"
Are you sure?" asked his sister. her
teeth chattering with fear.
They can only come down the chin
ney." was the answer; land they'll
hardly do thatvvhile the fire is burn
ing"
But Wen soon burn up all the wood
in the house. Jack"
Then I'll get more" was the cour-
ageous answer.
But the wolves. Jack?"
"Oh, there's the Winchester. Kitty. I
can take care of them with that"
Meanwhile baby had awakened and
was crying Justify. The wolves evil
IDENTIFY heard the noise and became
more violent At the door, the front
window and around the caves at the
north end, they scratched f~uriously,
stopping every few minutes To give u
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 II To 20 out, but ut Kitty's
pleading he abandoned the idea.
At length II glimmer of daylight came
through the cracks in the front window
shutter. At times this would be OBJ
scurcd by "a moving form, and ut times
Il loud snifile would be heard as one Of
the beasts would put his nose To the
window and try to test by scent the
probable nature of the longcd-for prey
within.
When this had happened three or
four times, Jack could stand II no long
or. He sprang 10 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 Il VOLTS
nose was pressed close against a crack
in the shutter and he shifted the air,
~furiously. With n 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 all was
still for a moment. Then angry snarls
were heard, as though the wolves were
fighting over something. This con-
tinued for IA long time, and then came
silence. The besieged breathed more
freely. II seemed as il all danger vas
passed.
There really never was any danger,
Kitty" said Jack; for they couldn't
get in the house. | 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 ut 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 n short distance from the house,
and were sitting upon the snow, as II
waiting for some 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,
Kitty, I'll go out to the stable" said
Jack.
"Oh, 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
a.. ah.Ntu Tl,, &C.,. ..I.l ~