The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-02
THE BIG GRAY WOLF.
STORY OF HApoLEoN's GRAND ARMY.

Napoleon's victories had set all Fra &c
ablaze with military glory. Jean Potoir
and Antoine Savary were French boys of
the department of the Y0nne. They shared
everything, were nearly always together.
Just before the invasion of Russia by the
Emperor a number of recruits belonging to
the village were allowed to return home for
visit, and the two boys heard their stories
of the last campaign.
AS Jean could beat the drum and An
tome was an excellent ifer. the recruits
begged the parents Of the boys 10 let them
60 TO tie army and share in the glory OF
taking the capital OF the Gar.
The parents agreed, and when the re-
cFuits went back the boys went too, and
were accepted by the mastering officer. He
said be needed good drummer and h!er,
and was glad to see them. Long before
they reached Moscow both had become
prime fayorites in the regiment
l. was dreary time for the French army
when il started away on that famous retreat
from the city of the Cars. Winter had set
in, the earth was white with deep SHOWS,
the air was bitter and cold. Before they
had gone FAR hundreds 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 of, not even by a fusi-
lade
>. One evening, near shutdown, Jean came to
Antoine and said he had discovered a farm
house near by; he thought they might get
some warm milk for themselves by telling
the people how exhausted they were.
,, The boys stole of, Jean with his drum
and Antoine with musket and some am
munitiUn, which had been given him by
ha hqd fro m Cna of
The ambuances..
When they reached the place. instead of
Q farmhouse they found hut nearly ready
to crumble TO pieces, and 70 sign Of any
one near.
3 As they passed into the hut something
rnshed out with snarl, and the boys found
they had dis 'urbed large gray wolf.
The hungry boys started back. Night
came sooner than common. Darkness sud-
denly swo0ped down on all the vast snowy
plain. When they tried 10 find the army
they could not
Suddenly there entered the cabin a long.
low how! that startled the young musi-
clans.
1.-The wolves have GOMEZ cried Antoine.
springng 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 at
tack. They had hopes that some of Prince
Murats heTsemen would come along aud
rescue them without further dangers.
By and by the wolves became bolder.
The boys saw them come almost close
enough 20 be struck with stone. They
had discovered the young musicians, and
now they began to-set up theiI long, peculiar
howl.
Jean seized the drumsticks and beat the
rstaplaD, In hopes of frightening the beasts
OH, but the music made them howl the
more.
@ Here they come, JEAN" exclaimed An
tome. Look TO the door! Ii they throw
themselves against it i'll body it viii not
keep them out"
The pack in front had risen and were
rushing forward. Antoine thrust the muzzle
of his musket through crack and fred into
the bowling, struggling mass.
Several yelps Of pain attested the DOW er
of the shot. The wolves drew off, carving
with them dead c0mrade, and deyoQred
him before the boys eyes.
Antoine had reloaded. They stood
against The door and awaited another al
tack.
Jean seized his drum. The little musl-
elan CT the Yonue played as he had never
played before; his diumst cks flew, warm
Ing his half-irozen fingers and filling the old
shabty with strange music, the rolcall Of
NapoleOn's army.
The hut was not high and It's 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 lean
down into the cabin and make short work
OF the young soldiers. For moment Jean
and Antoine shrank together aghast.
Look the dOorl the door," shouted
Jean, dropping his drumSticks. 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 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 barrieade.
The animals on the housetop made good
deal Of noise, and the boys had begun to
think that the roof could not be forced,
. when Jean cried out that a pair of ewes
were. cleaning overhead. and the young
soldiers looked and both saw the head of q
wolf.
1T is the big fellow" said Antoine,
bringing his musket to bear on the appari-
ton. 1T is the head Of the wolf we dis
turbed when We came TO the hut"
The next moment the hut was filled with
smoke and the boys saw the head vanish.
and the stars only were seen through the
hole in the roof.
?: The assaults of the ravenous beasts now
= began To tell on the strength Of the door
Jean placed his body against it, aud An
tolne Tired as often as he could, but the
wolves appeared ten times iercer.
"LIstcn! said Jean, suddenly, and he
= bent toward the door, making an ear-trum.
pet with his hands.
The little ffer looked through a crack
He TUNED to his friend, crying out viii
joy;
They seem to be horsemen. Whatever the,
are they are coming this way. They arr
too tall to be more wolves"
Jean picked up the drum and beat wiki
tune. which went out over the snow. 1t wa
answered by shouts, and now both coult
see hersemen galloping forward
"They are CossacksP whispered Antoine
his shoulder to the door. ave shall peyeI
see the grand army again."
The wolves were making final effort I,
close the door. Antoine mechanically ME
them, firing away his last charge and drop
ping his weapon.
In another moment party of wild
looking CossackS swooped down upon til,
hut and surrounded it, while the wolve
drew off.
"Come out!" cried the Cossacks "Co mi
out, you who are within! Surrender to tn,
soldiers of the great Carr
Jean and Antoine opened the door an,
walked forth. When the Cossacks saw tn
Two boys they set up loud laugh, an,
their hetman. a fine-looking fellow, satiri
caliy touched his cap in the way of a salute
They had expected to capture a number o
men soldiers.
Eyes, there is the big wolf on the roof.
said Jean to Antoine; AID sure enough ~
there lay the gray monster, the cause of al
lheir trouble. One of the Cossacks pulie
the carcass from the roof and threw it Of
the snow.
play for us," commanded the leader o