Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-06-25

FIPEa RrYFz STEPPED FIoETIKo.
wolves had been seen near these same
forests through which Piper had 10
pass, but as they had not yet yentured
10 attack anyone, little attention had
been paid 10 their presence. But now,
Ia their desperate hunger and while
lurking about for something TO prey
upon, some OF them had discovered Pr
per, and az once set mp howl for their
companions. But Piper was utterly in-
different 70 their howls and walked
boldly along.
suddenly just as lie turned q sharp
corner Of the roadway among the dense
timber, large gray wolf walked across
the road slowly and deliberately aboup
two rods ahead Of him, and then turned
and leisurely rccrossed 20 the. side from
where he came, swinging its tail aloft,
and with the hair raised on its neck. IL
also howled in dismal manner, as II
70 hurry up its companions, whose
answers now began TO come from many
directions Piper marched straight
ahead as Il nothing had happened, save
that he picked up good-sized club.
intending 20 throw il az the animal
should Il approach him again. A mo-
NlRUk AMNNE AiAt hANiAE MNaA AEAANNA 01N
from the brush much nearer TO him
than before, and Piper hurled the club
at the animal with tremendous force.
But quickly stepping 20 one side and
lodging the weapon, the wolf planted
itself In the middle and was not dis
posed 10 move any further, but showed
| It's teeth savagely and uttered more
bowls for It's companions.
Piper now began to get frightened. He
| gathered sticks and stones, and hurled
/ them az the wolf until il was glad 10
| get out of has way and let him proceed.
| But he knew from the sounds still com
| ing behind him that pack of the ami
mails was on his trail and he would
need to make haste or they would soon
| OyertalSe him. He was n strong man
aud very feet OF foot, but he had nc
/ expectation of winning against n lot of
/ wolves in a foot race, should they
| determine to pursue him. So he con-
| cludcd that he must at once bring all
his wits into play and, If possible, de.
ccivc thcm. The forest trees around
him were rather small TO climb and
be safe among the branches, and he
| did not relish the idea OF being kept NJ
In a tree all night in such cold weather.
| The desperatcness of the situation
called to his mind a singular cave con.
tanning two narrow openings, and he
concluded that II might afford him pro
lection and give him chance TO de.
fend himself. So away he hurried for
the cave. n was now long after dusk,
but the moon shone brightly,yet owing
20 the shadows Of the trees Piper ex
perieuced considerable difficulty il
finding the entrance TO the cavern
before crawling into the narrow pas
sageway he secured n large, heavy clul
TO use should the wolves attempt to fol
low him into his retreat. lie WA
scarcely half-dozen feet inside ere d,
heard their horrible howls near thi
entrance, and saw their eyes like ball
of fire glaring on him from the outside
at FIRST they seemed dlsinclined {,
follow after him, apparently fearing ;
trap, but finally the boldest one starte,
inside, and then all squeezed them
selves into the opening until it wa
damned tight. AS the forward VOL
came within his reach, Piper pouudes
Il with his club until Il was utterly dis
ablcd, but the great pressure of thos
from behind constantly brought tn
heads of others nearer and nearer
Piper never stopped fighting, bu
whacked.and beat aud gouged and dis
abled wolf after wolf as they cam
within reach But at length the en-
trance becume so perfectly filed wit
wolves that they could neither get foi
ward nor backward, while their savag
bowls resonnded in the narrow plac
with such deafening effect that it mad
Piper tremble, and his sole thought wa
, 20 get out and away from them. Gror
ing around with his hands he foun
some good-sized, loose stones, wit
, which he hastily filled in the opening
lust in front OF the wolves as tightly a
, he could pack it, and then with club i
hand, he crawled along and sough
exit ut the opposite entrance of tn
cavern, The dismal darkness prevente
him from seeing anything, and Il wa
! some time before he found the wa
, out. The wolves did not know, or els
had forgotten this entrance, and Pipe
! left them bowling with fury, crowde
l into the narrow mouth of the cave q
least sixty yards away from where i
, had emerged. He now made his wa
, to the road again, aud two hours lat,
i had reached home.
! A few days later he visited III
cavern, but found nothing save fe
! bones, the dead and wounded wolvi
, having been, as he supposed, eaten u
by their ravenous companions.