Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-03-26
THE BIG GRAY WOLF.

Napoleon's victories had set all France
! ablaze with military glory. Jean Potoir
md Antoine Savary were French boys of
tue department of the Yonne. They shared
everything, were nearly always to
geiher.
Ju.t before the invasion of Russia by
The emperor, number of recruits belong
ing to the village we're allowed to return
| home for visit, and the two boys heard
their stories OF the last campaign.
As Jean could btat the drum. and An
tome was an excellent ffer, the recruits
begged the parents of the boys
to let them 60 to the army and share
in the glory of taking the capital of the
car.
The parents agreed, and when the re-
cruits went back the boys went too, and
we're accepted by the mastering officer He
said he needed good drummer and ffer,
and was glad 70 see them. Long before
they reached Moscow both had become
prime favorites in the regiment.
twas dreary time for the French army
when IL started away on that famous re-
treat from the city of the cars. Winter
had set in, the earth was white with deep
SHOWS, the aiT was bitter and cold. Before
they had gone far hundreds of soldiers
froze to death.
At night the wolves would 6ll the frosty
air with their how!s, and when a man
dropped out of the ranks they you'd rush
down upon him and deVeur him before his
comrades. They we're large and fierce, and
they came in great packs, and sometimes
could not be driven of, not even by fusi.
lude.
One evening, near shutdown, Jean came
to Antoine and said he had discovered
a farmhouse near by; he thought they
night get some warm milk for themselves
by telling the people how exh lusted they
we're.
The boys stole off, Jean and his drum
and Antoine with a musket and some am
munitiop, which had been given him by
soldier who had been transferred to one of
the ambulances.
When they reached the place, instead Of
a farmhouse, thew found a 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 sud
denly swooped do En on all the vast, snowy
plain. When they tried to find the army
they could not.
Suddenly there entered the cabin a
long, low howl, that startled the young
musicians.
1.-The wolves have comel" cried An
tome, springing up aid running to the
door, which they had shut.
Ga the snow stood huge wolf whose
sides shone like silver, shown that he
wore gray coat. He seemed to bead
the pack He had brought them all on
the boy track.
Antoine was for firing at the wolf, but
Jean said it would only precipitate an at
tack. They had hopes that some of Prince
Murat' horsemen would come along and
rescue them without furthei danger.
By and by the wolves became holder.
The boys saw them como almost close
enough to be struck with a stone. They
bad discovered the young musician, and
now they began to set up their long,
peculiar howl
Jean seiz the dlumsucks and beat the
rataplan, in hopes of frightening the
beasts If but the music MADE them howl
the more.
"Htre they come, Jean. exclaimed An
tome. Look to the door! If they throw
themselves against it in a body it will
not keep them out. "
Zoe pack in front had risen and were
rushing forward Antoine thrust the
muzze OF bis musket through a crack
and fred into the bowling, struggling
mass.
Several yelps Of pain attested the power
Of the shot The wolves drew of, carry
ing with them dead courade, and de-
voured him before the boys eyes.
Antoine bad reloaded. They stood
against the door and awaited smother at
tack
Jean seized his drum. The little musician
OF the Yonne played az be never Rad play
ed before; his drum sticks few, warming
his half froz n fingers and filing the old
shanty with strange music, the roll Of Ma
Ioleou's army.
The hut was not high and its roof was
covered with heavy snow. Suddenly the
boys saw several wolye5 leap up and disap-
pear. The seemed to have bounded toward
the roof. and when Jean cried out that ne
beard something overhead, they both knew
that the aaiu4ls we're on the hut.
Yes, the wolves were up there, trying to