Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16

/ oowu INTO tne loro ana tnen 1aiis zig -zagginS
| up the foothills. For you SEQ when you gets
| atop of them hills the trail was fair and
straight for quite piece, and We could see EN-
coming long ways off. And so We fixed it.
"And that night the snow come, and in the
| morning it was a-lying soft and white all over
the trees and over the trail, and everything jest
| a-shlning in the sun, sorter joyful-hke. And
| Jim, he says as how We needn't be surprised to
see him coming back a-sedding, and if thar
| was any jingle-bells in the place, why he would
| have EN-. And he rides away on tho old roam
boss, a-leaGing of the bay, and both on EN-
a-swish-swashing through the snow, and we
a-danclng and a-shoutlng on the hill to keep him
company as long as he could hear, jest like two
| children.
| ''Well, sirs. thar was more come with that
snow than We first thought on; for along about
o'clock, jest arter we'd lit the first fire in the
| nrepIace, and was a-stanoing QUITO doors to
see the smoke pour out the chimbley, we bears
| a Rowland then another-long and shrili and
| dismal-like. And Rube turns pretty nigh as
white as the snow thar. and Jest SAYS one word
| wolves! Now q wolf amt no great critter
| for man what's well and strong, and got
gun, and maybe could climb a tree, to be
afeared on, but when he's got a wife and babies
coming through the woods to meet him-and they
not knowing the ways of wild things anyway
and jim with nothing but little popping
| slx-shooter for to defend hisself on-then l tell
you wolves is different! And every time they
yelled away off thar atwixt US and the settle
ment some way our hearts jest CHM right up
In our throats and stuck thar. and we a-pant-
ing.
Gentlemen, it takes a tidy while to tell
about 1t, but it wasn't two shakes afore we was
In the little cabin, and we grabs gun yere and
a hatchet thar, and don know what all, and
then away we goes a-tearing down the trail,
teeth shet hard and narves and muscles braccd
Tor long race over the white snow. And all
the while that wild bowling a-getting nearer
and a-getting nearer and the cold chils a-creep-
m hnnr gh.ant inv Ou q rnl
and the agony in Reuben's face a-deepening,
ever time We hears that distant yell.
Ihe good Lord only knows how we got
thar so scared and tremblyous and all OMIT
Tor running as we was, but anyway we reached
the last hill over the ford, and jest was
a-going to plunge down the trail, Rube stops
short and throws up one hand. and says with
his lips as plain as though he'd said it with his
voice-for we had no breath left for talking
Wlth-Listen! And sure enough, away oil
thar we hears, faint ana distant-liae, little
crack and then another and another-six of
em-about as loud rs swapping of a little twig.
But We knowed what it meant: it was Jims SIX
shooter a-speaking bravely for the wife and
nttie ones, a-comlng on the trail.
linen down we goes over the hill. and splash
Splash, into the ford, up to our knees, up to our
waists, up to our arnl-pits in the icy water
but a-holdlns our arms up high and a-keeping
our guns and amynition dry for to do death on
them yelping devils! And when we gets atop
OF the hlll, we hears EN- coming round the
pend, the little gun going zip-bang-ag gin
SIX times; and then little space for him to
load and then onct more, six times. And all
the while the wolves a-keeping up that veil,
howl and yell agin-that turned our blood to
Ice; and we a-going on, a-staggering, and
a-stumbllng, and restraining OF our ears to
listen.
And jest then they comes in sight, good
mile away, but seeming almost nigh enough to
touch en- III the cold clear air-the bosses all
alash. the low sled a-bumping on the fallen
logs. Jim a-standing up and laying ON tho
whip-and every little while a-throwing back
his ARMAND then would come little puff of
smoke-and then we'd hear the piff-bang
a-floating on the air; ana in the SLED, all of
huddle on the floor, little tunbling bounc-
Ing heap we knowed was Rube's vito and
babies. And Reuben gives a awful groan, and
stops, and throws up both arms, dead beat and
all unnarycd and looks at me appealing like
but could only shake my head, and drag him
on. lknowed they'd never make it to get in
shot OF Us the way it looked afore the wolves
would be upon 'em, for they was gaining now
and coming up with every stride-and we 80
helpless
And jest then Jim fires two shots, snap
Dan6, al wolf as was a-getting up abreast of
MIN, but only twice. and part of the pack stops
and pitches on this dying one; but the rest
keeps on, and jim filings something bright and
shiny IN the sun squat in the face of one
a-cominS up on tother side; and then we see
LIS last shot was gone and he throwed away his
wepln-for every pound counted. Then pres
entity out goes the buffalo skin-and then
something else; and each time the pack stops,
and some on EN- rolls over and goes heels up
III the sudden check, and back agln and take
snlit. and when they finds their bite don't draw
the blood, then bark back arter the chase, and
a-ge'tlnS nearer, nearer all the while.
And now we kin see Jims white face, kin
hear him shouting to the bosses and shouting
curses at the wolves a-Sainlng grim and deadly
and Kube kneeis down and throws up the
barrel Of his rife-but drops it quick again and
gives moan he darsen't fire for fear he ii hit
something else, dearer a thousand times than
his own body.
And then it was, gentlemen I seed the
strangest, queerest thing l ever see in all nv
living days; for Jim, he sees he'd never win
the race with all on EN-, and he jest up and
stands on the seat, sharp and clear against the
white sky. gives the horses last clip
with the LASH kinder kisses hand to the sun
shine he never was to agin, whips of his
hat, and waves it-jest like thls-twice or may
back AMONG those velnine, sbriok;mrr da,.;i
They climb on him and tear ot him. 20 Il IL,