Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-24

Napoleon Vlct0rl es 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 to
gether.
Just before the invasion of Russia by
the emperor. number of recruits belong
ing to the village were allowed to return
home fer visit, and the two boys heard
their stories of the last campaign.
AS Jean could bea5 the drum, and An
tome was an excellent ffer, the recruits
begged the parents of the boys
to let them so to ,he 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 ffer,
and Was glad to see them. Long before
they reached Moscow both had become
prime favorites ia the regiment.
1t was dreary time for the French army
when it 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 air was bitter and cold. Before
irthey had gone far hundreds Of soldiers
froze to. death.
At night the wolves would ill the frosty
air with their bowls, and when a man
! dropped out OF the ranks they would rush
fdown upon him and devSur him before his
comrades. They were large and fierce. and
they came In great packs, and sometimes
lcould not be driven Oft, not even by fusi
Elude.
One evening, near shutdown, Jean canae
to Antoine and said he had discovered
a farmhouse near by; he thought they
might get some warm milk for themselves
10y telling the people how exh usted they
were.
The boys stole ct, Jean and his druaa
and Antoine with A musket and s0me ana
munition, which had been given him by
I~soidier who had been transferred to one of
the ambulances.
When they reached the place, instead Of
a farmhouse, thev found a nRt nearly
|Ieady to crumble to pieces, and nc sign Of
any one near.
AS they passed iEto the hut something
rushed out with a snarl, and the boys
found they had disturbed a large gray
wolf.
The hungry Boys started back. Night
came sooner than eoaamon. Darkness sud
denl y swooped do Hn on all the vast, Snowy
plain When they tried to find the arnay
they could not.
Suddenly there catered the cabin a.
long, low howl, that startled the ycsang
musicians.
The wolves have comet cried Am
tome, ~springing up and running to the
door, which they had shut.
0Rrthe snow stood q huge wolf whose
sides shone like silver, shown that he
wore a gray coat. He seemed to bead
the pack. He had brought them adj on
the boys track.
Antoine was for firing at the wolf, but
Jean said it would oaly precipitate an at
tack. They had hopes that some of Prince
Murat'e horsemen would G9me along and
rescue them without furthaI danger.
By and by the wolves became bolder.
The boys saw them come almost close
enough to ,be struck with stone. They
had discovered the young musician, and
now they began so set up their long,
peculiar howl
Jean seized the drumsueks aRd beat the
rataplan. in hopes of frightening the
beasts off, but the music made them howl
the more.
Here they come, Jean. exclaimed An
tome. Look to the doori IL they throw
themselves against it in body 1t will
not keep them out.
The pack in front had risen and were
rushing forward Antoine thrust the
mozzie ef his musket Though a crack
and fired into the bowling, struggling
mass.
Several gelps Of pain attested the power
of the shot. The wolves drew OF, carr
ing with then q dead comrade, and de-
Eourea him before the boys eyes.
Antoine had reloaded. They stood
against the door and awaited smother at
tack.
Jean seized his drum. TIE little musician
Of the Yonne played as he never had play
ed before; his drumsticks few, warming
his half frozen fingers and filling the old
shanty with strange music, the roll OF Ma.
poleoa' army.
The hut was not high and its roof was
covered with heavy snow. Suddenly the
BOYS saw several wolves leap IN and disap-
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 q mo-
ment Jean and Antoine shrank together
aghast
Look! the door! the door," shouted
Jean, dropping his drum-sticks. They
are here again, Antoine.
Once more the BOY with the musket
fred at the lot outside, t. hear another
howl and to see tie pack devour a 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 houEetop made a