The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-01-03

weed rs If waiting TO be taken. But
always when the pursuer was near the
canary renewed its flight
SO the chase went on until, at last,
the bird disappeared. Incautiously
hurrying forward, the General felt the
ground give way beneath his feet.
Next moment he tumbled heels over
head into gully with soft sand mt the
bottom.
He got upon his feet and felt him.
self over to make sure that no bones
were broken. In the darkness of the
gulch he could hear the scurring away
of several animals He picked up the
rifle he had dropped in his tumble, and
looked about him.
evolves, eh?" said the General.
'Just show mark, will YEP"
But the wolves seemed to think that
would be foolish conduct.
"1t'sa pretty trap that Dick led me
into," said the General. "Tve seen
the last of him, sure enough. It's the
worse for himself, for the hawks III get
him tomorrow sure, if the weasels
don't tonight. Serve the little fool
right for running away from his
friends"
The General was looking ruefully
MP the steep bank, twelve or fifteen
feet high, whom he heard the sobbing
of child.
"Who's there?" cried the amazed
man.
"Mei"
"Whcre are you?"
"Here."
The General moved few steps be-
fore he saw small girl who covered
close by the dark bank, shivering with
cold and terror, and trying hard not
to cry aloud.
'Why, If this isn't little girl ont
here alone !" he cried. "Whnt brought
you here?"
"fm Oily Stephan, Mr.. General"
she whimpered. 81 lost my way. L
thought when you came tumbling
down that you were--you were--I
didn't know what you werel"
+ "No wonder" he said, laughing
checrfully. "Now, Oily, you shall go
to tine Horse Creek Ranch right away
with me, and get some supper. Then
we'll send you home to your folks.
Come, come, that's enough of crying.
There's brave grill"
"May see your bird when we get
there?" faltered Oily, whose tears
were drying. She had once beheld
the famous canary of the Horse Creek
Ranch, and greatly longed to see it
again.
The General groaned. For n time
he had forgotten the loss which Olly's
words recalled But he had scarcely
begun to tell her the doleful story of
the birds escape when small wings
fiuttered close to his face, and Dick
flew to his familiar roost on the Gen.
erals head. The bird, already wear
led of its freedom, had returned to its
master of its own accord
"If Dick isn't ready to go home
with us!" he whispered, joyfully.
With a sudden movement, he caught
the bird in a secure but tender grasp.
"Well, little one!" he cried, joy
fully. "1'm glad to have you back.
You've"
A quick rustling of the sand mp the
dry creek channel drew his attention.
He thought he could see the CLEAN of
eyes and vague shapes of animals.
"Here, dear, hold Dick now," said
the General, gently placing the canary
in the child's hands. Don't let him
fly away when the rifle speaks. We've
got to tell those wolves that they can't
have little Oily this time"
He threw the repeating rifle to his
shoulder, and its muzzle spouted flame
to the ringing crack, crack, crack, of
six shots sent in quick succession
among the wolves. With loud yelp-
ings the pack bounded away, all but
one, which rolled and tumbled about
on the sands in his death struggle.
The searching party heard the shots,
and fastened toward the sound. They
were met by the General leading Oily
Stephan, who was carrying the canary
with great care. The first man to learn
the good news fired his pistol; the
man repeated the signal, and thus, in