Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-03-31
THE BIG GRAY WOLF.

Napoleon's victories had set all France
ablaze with military glory. Jean Potoir
and Antoine Savary were French boys
of the department of the Yonne. They
shared everything, were nearly always
together.
Just before the invasion of Russia by
the emperor a number of recruits be-
longing to the village were allowed to
return homo for a visit, and the two
boys heard their stories of the last CAM
paign.
AS Jean could beat the drum, and An
tome was an excellent fifer, the recruits
begged the parents of the boys to let
them go to the army and share in the
glory of taking the capital of the czar.
The parents agreed, and when the re-
cruits went back the boys went too, and
were accepted by the mastering officer.
He said he needed good drummer and
fifer and was glad to see them. Long
before they reached Moscow both had
become prime favorites in the regiment.
1t was dreary time for the French
army when it started away on that fa-
nous retreat from the city of the czars.
Winter had set in, the earth was white
with deep SHOWS, the air was bitter and
cold. Before they had gone far hun
dreds of soldiers froze to death.
At night the wolves would fill the
frosty air with their howls, and when a
man dropped out of the ranks they would
rush down upon him and devour him
before his comrades. They were large
and fierce, and they came in great packs
and sometimes could not be driven off,
not even by fusillade.
One evening near sundown Jean came
to Antoine and said he had discovered a
farmhouse near by. He thought they
might get some warm milk for them
selves by telling the people how ex-
hausted they were.
The boys stole off, Jean with his drum
and Antoine with a Ihusket and some
ammunition, which had been given him
by soldier who had been transferred to
one of the ambulances.
When they reached the place, instead
of farmhouse they found hut nearly
ready to crumble to pieces, and no sign
of any one near.
AS they passed into the hut something
rushed out with a snarl, and the boys
found they had disturbed large gray
wolf.
The hungry boys started back. Night
came sooner than common. Darkness
suddenly swooped down on all the vast,
snowy plain. When they tried to find
the army they could not.
Suddenly there entered the cabin
long, low howl that startled the young
musicians.
''The wolves have come" cried An
toine, springing up and running to the
door, which they had shut.
On the snow stood huge wolf whose
sides shone like silver, showing that he
wore gray coat. He seemed to head
the pack. He had brought them all on
the boys track.
Antoine was for firing at the wolf, but
Jean said it would only precipitate an
attack. They had hopes that some of
Prince Murat's horsemen would come
along and rescue them without further
dangers.
By and by the wolves became bolder.
The boys saw them come almost close
enough to be struck with a stone. They
had discovered the young musicians, and
now they began to set up their long, Pc
culiar howl
Jean seized the drumsticks and beat
the rataplan in hopes of frightening the
ofg l1,,t %lA ~.
howl the more.
"Here they come, Jeanr exclaimed
Antoine. "Look to the doorl If they
throw themselves against it in body
it will not keep them out"
The pack in front had risen and were
rushing forward. Antoine thrust the
muzzle of his musket through a crack
and fred into the bowling, struggling
mass.
Several yelps of pain attested the
power of the shot. The wolves drew
off, carrying with them dead comrade,
and devoured him before the boys eyes.
Antoine had reloaded. They stood
against the door and awaited another
attack.
Jean seized his drum. The little mu-
sician of the Yonne played as he had
never played before; his drumsticks
few, warming his half frozen fingers
and filling the old shanty with strange
music, the roll call of Napoleon's army.
The hut was not high and its roof was
covered with heavy snow. Suddenly the
boys saw several wolves leap up and dis
appear. They seemed to have bounded
toward the roof, and when Jean cried
out that he heard something overhead,
they both knew that the animals were
on the hut.
Yes, the wolves were up there, trying
to scratch the snow away, that they
might leap down into the cabin and
make short work of the young soldiers
For moment Jean and Antoine shrank
together aghast.
"Lookl the doorl the doori' shouted
Jean,, dropping his drumstick. "They
are here again, Antoine"
Once more the boy with the musket
fred at the lot outside to hear another
howl and to see the pack devour slain
comrade.
But this time the wolves did not fall
back; they continued to try to force the
door while Antoine reloaded with half
frozen hands and Jean held the barri-
cade.
The animals on the housetop made
good deal of noise, and tAe boys had be-
gun to think the roof could not be
forced, when Jean cried out that pair
of eyes were cleaning overhead, and
the young soldiers looked and both saw
the head of wolf.
II have just recovered from a second at
tack of the grip this year." says Mr.. JAS. O,
L cE tha