Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-11

.'Get your weapon ready-be on the
safe side. you know"
The wolves were close at hand, and
as Platoff crept yard or two farther
down the ravine deer broke into view
through the spruce thicket and dashed
swiftly past him. The poor animal was
nearly exhausted and ran with Difficult
ty. Taking quick aim at the shadowy
figure Platoff pulled trigger. AS the re-
port echoed through the ravine the deer
was seen to fall, but it rose again quick
ly and sped on in flight. That brief de-
lay was fatal. With wild howls half a
dozen wolves burst from the forest, and
overhauling the fugitive in half doz-
en- leaps bore it still struggling to the
ground not 30 yards from where Platot
stood.
The boys, hearing the outcry and not
knowing what was taking place, were
inclined to run, but Platoff turned
around, his face aglow with triumph.
and shouted:
Follow me now. We can easily drive
off this handful Of wolves.
Then be vanished down the ravine,
pistol in hand. Maurice cooked his re-
vo!ver and followed, shouting to Phil,
who was armed only with knife. to
keep in the rear. He reached the bot
tom of the gully almost at Platoff's
side, and bis hasty glimpse of the strug.
gle made plain the Russians eagerness
for the conflict.
The first glimmer Of dawn she'd a
dim light on the scene, and the gray
forms of the wolves outlined against the
snowy whiteness of the ground afforded
fine opportunity for aim.
The struggles of the wounded deer
were over, and bis assailants were
swarming over its body, tearing the
flesh with such ferocious haste that the
approach of Platoff and Maurice was
unheeded.
"We must have that meat, whis-
pered Platoff. at will keep us for
weeks" And raising his revolver he
aimed at the nearest wolf, a huge,
gaunt brute. who toppled over simulta-
neously with the report. At the same
instant Maurice fired, but unfortunate
" made a miss, and the remaining
wolves, angered at this interruption to
their feast, sprang in body at the dar-
ing intruders.
Crack, crack, went Platoff's revolv-
or, and down went the foremost ami
NAL, staining the snow dark crimson.
His second shot crippled another, who
retreated with a mournful howl
Maurice, who remained admirably
cool under this trying ordeal, killed q
third by careful shooting, and the re-
manning uninjured brutes, two in num-
ber, very wisely retreated up the slope.
The wounded wolf had crawled away
under cover.
"Hurrah! We've done it," cried
Maurice with pardonable glee, and as
be spoke loud outcry was heard from
Phil, who had remained on top Of the
slope. PlatoR was off like streak, with
Maurice at his heels, and, gaining the
ridge, they were Mortified to see the lad
struggling with one of the fugitive
wolves. The crust had broken, and both
were foundering about in the soft snow
beneath.
Platoff reached the spot in couple
of leaps, and, actually seizipg the brute
by the throat, lifted him up and flung
him yard or two away. He reached
for his revolver, but it was missing,
and, snatching the knife from Phil, who
was now rising unsteadily to his feet,
he turned just in time to meet the rabid
animals attack. The wolf was not a
large one, but what he lacked in size he
made up in ferocity, and for moment
Platoff's position was one of EXTREMIST
peril The brute landed on his breast,
and for q second or two he tottered.
Then, recovering himself, he clutched
the woolly throat in one hand and with
the other struck repeatedly with the
knife. The muscular blows went home,
the brute's efforts relaxed, and down
he went on the blood stained snow, a
limp and lifeless heap.
Platoff coolly wiped the blood from
his hands and examined the scratches
on his arms and breast.
"I'm not hurt" he said in answer to
the boys eager inquiries. "The marks
are only skin deep. l dropped my re-
volver some " here or I would have set
tied him without all this fuss. ."
"You saved my life exclaimed
Phil. "In a moment more his teeth
would have been in my throat. The
brute sprang on me from that thicket
there, and when we fell the crust broke.
That is what kept me from being bit
ten. don't believe I'm hurt at all, ex-
cept for my clothes. " And he pointed to
the front of his coat, all ripped and
hanging in tdtters.
Platoff disdained all praise and
strobe off to look for his lost revolver.
It was found half way down the slope,
where he had dropped it while running
to Phil's assistance.
1t was now nearly daylight, and Pla-
toff started at once to cut up the deer.
It was long and difficult task with
but one knife, and dull one at that,
but an hour after sunrise the choice
parts Of the meat had been removed