Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-11-06

wife and children, the weary winter
had been a perpetual fast.
While the hungry fisherman vas
enjoying his toothsome supper. he
heard an ominous bowling in the
forest on the hillside that rose from
the western bank of the river, and
knew that it came from pack OF
wolves.
The vicinity had been infested with
them of late, so much so that the
town Of Warwick had offered large
bounty for each individual captured
but Mr.. Neville, in his eagerness to
appease his importunate hunger, had
been indiscreet enough TO tempt the
more ravenous appetites Of the saw
age creatures that were lurking in
his near neighborhood.
They had scented the roasted fish,
and were coming TO share the sayory
meal. Hastily stringing dozen or so
OF the largest fish, and seizing his
basket OF torches, the man started on
a brisk run over the hard, imperyious
snow-crust, that glistened cold and
white in the clear moonlight.
He held a lighted torch in one hand,
which he thought might assist in
keeping the wolves at bay, should
they follow him.
The sharp, eager howls came near
er and nearer. Then there came 10
his ears, as he was ascending the hill
between the river and the second
plateau Of the valley, the snarls and
barks OF confused wrangling, and
! he knew the creatures were devour-
| ing the fish he had left upon the ice.
! 1t was not long before he became
aware that the hungry brutes, made
more ravenous by their repast upon
the fish, were following him, but he
did not dare to turn his head TO look
! back
Once or twice he tire W a fish over
/ his shoulder as a peace-oiIering to the
oncoming pack, but that only checked
their progress for moment; that
sharpened their appetites all the
more. and their howls became more
aud more resonant and persistent
As Neville, having crossed the road
running through the village OF North
| field, now began TO ascend the steep
| hills lying between that township and
! Warwick, he gave one glance back
ward, and could see, Just below him,
! the cleaning eye-balls of the savage
creatures shining through the dark
ness, clouds having now Obscured
the moon like balls OF fire.
He turned quickly, and made his
way as fast as he could backwards
When one torch had nearly burned
out, he would light another, and
throw the stub of the one too short
to hold longer back into the faces Of
the bowling pack, thus retarding
their progress n trlhe.
His courage did not forsake him in
this dire exigency. He was strong
man, and he remembered that God
always helps those who help them
selves. "'Slow and steady wins the
race, you cowardly brutes," he vocif
Grated, ''and can walk backwards
the four remaining miles, if necessary;
I'm all right il my torches hold out"
On and on, the arduous walk in
this reverse manner continued. There
was one mile more to accomplish,
and his stock of torches was getting
exhausted as well, in fact, was the
poor mans strength.
As he neared his home he began TO
shout for help. His wife had not
gone to bed that night, and she heard
him, although he was more than
mile away.
It's your father, she said to the
boys. Evolves are chasing him.
can hear them bark and snarl. We
must not only save him, but Kill as
many OF the miserable brutes n. we
can, so a. TO get the big bounty the
town has set on their vile heads.
open the door of the new sheep
| fold and set ladder against the wall
opposite the door while / go to meet
your father. And mind 90 back into
the house and stay there till you are
called"
With an apron full Of torches and a
/ lighted one in her hand, the brave
woman sped across the fields TO meet
her husband, whose strength was, by
/ this time, nearly exhausted.
The sound of her voice soon glad
dened his ears, and when she relieved
him in his backward walk, the change
OF position was such a relief TO him
that he forgot his fatigue entirely.
Now let us run for it" he said 10
Mrs. Neville, as they reached the fiat
near their house.
/ Not so. my good man. she re-
/ piled; do YOU steer straight for the
new sheepfold that our neighbors
have made so much light OF. and see
/ if it will not keep wild animals in as
well as out. You shall be well paid
for this nights work"
As the good couple approached the
sheep-fold, the old grizzled leader OF
I the pack lessened his pace, and, for
moment, his hoarse barks ceased, ar
/ II aware that danger was imminent.
But Mr.. and Mrs. Neville, having
walked through the wide, open door
OF the lofty fold, aseended the ladder,
where they took one OF the three re-
manning fishes that h had resolutely
withheld from his ravenous followers,
and held ii in the blaze of the torch