The Bossier banner., 1892-09-29

the young trapper realized that they
were following his trail,
He had not brought his gun with him. |
intending to be absent from the cabin
only a short time, but he carried his |
revolver in his belt and would not suf-
fer them to approach too ear his heels. |
He determined, however, not to FIRE
upon the bea SITS unless they pursued
him too closely, He had only two
charges in his revolver, and had neg.
lected to bring any ammunition along.
A few hundred rods before him was
thinly imbered stream, which flowed
into the river about half mile dis
tant Toward this Ed Wheeler was
making his way when his attention
FIRST became attracted to the wolves.
| He h ad no notion of being attacked
by them out on the open prairie, SO he
struck out on kind of ''dog trot'' for
| the creek.
That was signal for the yelping
beasts to increase their pace.
They came tearing along through the
long prairie grass, brown and dead,
but still tall and thick, in swift pursuit
| dttcF tne young GTdppcT.
Ed Wheeler began to realize that it
would be hard run for life against
such pack as had suddenly material
lied in his rear.
He judged that the gang was being
almost constantly reinforced by new
recruits, whose howls could be heard
nearly every minute in some new quar-
ter.
He broke into a swifter run. If he
could only reach a tree on the creek, he
would climb it and defy his hungry
! would-be captors.
He had almost gained the stream,
when his foot struck an unseen log half
buried in the rank grass, and down he
came headlong to the ground.
Before he was fairly aware what had
happened to himself, the whole pack
rushed down upon him, swapping and
snarling in a most hideous manner.
Young Wheeler's first thought was
a that his doom was sealed then and
there. But he was courageous youth,
9 and one of his principles was never to
-, say die"
Sooner than the pen is able to relate
: it, he was on his feet and had sent the
foremost wolf back with one savage
kick from his stout boot. Then. grasp.
ing his revolver, he put a bullet through
the next one.
This created little panic among the
voracious beasts, and Ed took advan
tage of the recoil to dash away toward
the creek, -.....
The whole gang paused long enough
to tear their dead comrade to piece:
and lick up the blood. One dead vol
was only morsel for fifteen or eight
cen gaunt, hungry ones and it was mo-
long until Ed heard them bowling after
him again.
He had succeeded in reaching th'
bank of the stream before the pursui
was resumed.
Having tasted blood, he knew thei
ferocity would be all the greater, ant
he knew, too, that he had not a secont
to spare if he would save himself.
: The creek bed was perfectly dry a
a that place, no rain having fallen al
A winter.
= just before him was drift of dea
:, trees, sticks and brush, left there b.
the high waters of last September.
The nearest tree that would affor
him any protection was a maple tree
- which was at one end of the drift.
- had been blasted by lightning, and tn
top, where it was splintered consider
ably, hung over, its lower braDche
:. touching the drift.
- The wolves gave him no time t
~ choose a better retreat, for they wer
y at his heels before he was aware, an
- - as he scrambled up the blighted mapl
the leader of the gang snapped at h1
leg, inficting no slight wound.
d But soon Ed had drawn himself u
III beyond their reach, and could derid
a' their disappointed howls and the fraI
as tic efforts they made to get to him.
III Had it been chilly day the youn
Il trapper would have experienced grea
s, or discomfort than he did. But the su
III shone brightly, and if he had brougf
H a piece of dried meat with him to al
pease his hunger he assured himself
st could have laughed at his unpleasar
IL situation. All day the wolves surroun'
te ed him, uttering their dismal cries, {
If bedlam had been let loose.
n When the sun disappeared the evel
rs ing air grew chilly. Ed began to fe'
n numb, and ceased to mock at the gar
ct the foot of the tree.
ch This being treed by almost score
lg hungry prairie wolves, out of all reae
of human aid, and with only one ba
,ff left in his revolver, was far more ser
of Gus business than Ed had at fir
no thought
ut 1t was uncertain when his faith
would return from the traders cam
ed perhaps not before morning.
sr, Should blizzard come sweepiI
nd over the prairie, Ed knew he would
IS, frozen stiff as poker.
Fumbling about in his pockets he dl
,st covered few matches, which put ne
ny idea into his head.
by Wolves were shy of fire. If he cou
only succeed in getting the heaps
alf dry brush apd sticks of the drift belo
by him to ignite, he might frighten I
ed tormentors away.
He resolved to put his scheme in
re execution.