The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1898-12-01

"Se had thus hesr picking our way
carefully for about three hours, or, la
ether words. Il was then abo-. ten
o'clock sghen the trails led toward a
narrow cluster Of trees. Up to this we
made haste and hurried through the
opening beyond, both Of us evidently
l-eing moved with the same impre ision
that the farther eide would solve the
ryHtery Of The boys absence.
And Il did.
~ couple OF hundred yards out in
he plain we saw solitary poplar con-
sidtrab.y larger than the others thrre-
about The first thing that drew our
attention to 1t were the two black OBJ
jrc,s on its largest limbs. These OH
Ircis wc speedily made out 10 De the
missing children.
but why were they there? And,
casting our eyes about for the cause. IL
VAS at once made manifest by seeing
three large, gaunt wolves sitting at
the base Of the tree. watching the
forms above.
I'VE both simultaneously looked at
The printing Of our rides, aud. although
the distance from where we stood was
considerable for the Misunderstanding
auaa Of those days, yet We had no OPP
ton but 10 try, ns there was no other
point Of coucyaimcnt between Us aud
the tree hu, the place We were In.
jerome selected an immense gray
fellow as his mark aud pick, d out one
II the Dthrrs--n pure white, with black
ears and muzzlc. We each took careful
aim and fired together at the word
three
when the smoke cleared away
from our guns we had the satisfaction
OF seeing both animals rolling AID
-uuppiug their great jaws In the death
agony, and the third disappearing IN
full retreat over distant knoll.
'Beloading our guns Az We went, ws
hurried on with what speed we could
toward the tree the fathers heart la
Jerome being stirred 10 its depths -
the awful dread he felt at seeing those
mutiouiess figures, which made no per-
ceptible move ut our firing or approach.
The younger boy, Mark, was the
uppcrmost, and tied TO the tree trunk
with his brothers belt, nud. better TO
securc bis safety, his brother sat astridc
Of limb lower down aud clasprd the
legs OF Mark and the trunk OF the pop
lar with the same embrace.
al hrst, aa We gazei up at the poor
children. We thought they were both
dead, but when /, the lighter man aud
the lrest overcome, assembled the tree,
/ found the younger long since past all
assistance. for his body WAS frozen
hard hut Williams still gave odt some
warmth. but quite overcome with the
stupur that prcccdcs death by cNpusuFe
to excessive cold.
Fortunately, before leaving the
mouse, had showed into my pocket
small flask Of the very pprest
Frauch brandy, some Of ANAL
uuautity given TO me by the cap
t.Iu NJ q Jersey vessel that had wise
lied the cosst The previous summer As
best could forced portion Of this
between his clenched teeth which
caused him to cough, and at the same
tim, he opened his eyes for moment
To- a dayed way.
Sufficient Of the liquor had found
It's way down his throat to create gem
ii, glow through his body, aud after q
moment or two he opened his eyes and
cndcayorrd to speak, CHANGING up IN a
mute and appealing way toward his
brother. -.
Ellis fingers were frozen, intcrlaccd.
on the opposite side Of the tree, bit as
they were past all chance of briug
saved, and especially as they gave hiH
no pain, wreuchcd them apart without
hesitation and lowered the boy to his
father.
"As we had al we could do to carry
the frozen boy TO the house before night
set In. wr concluded to leave the corpse
of little Mark secured to the tree as he
was. There, at all events, he would he
fee, from any other wolves that might
be IA the vicinity.
"Whlle old jerome built n fire 10
L4Aht warm htihh t'' WV IVY " '"A.As
ripped OF the skins OF the dead beasts,
q, they were both beautifully iurred
and Of uncommon size. TheAe made
up in a hail and hung them up for safety
from destruction until We came back
thc following day.
"a trilc more Of the brandy and come
warm Cruel brought William back TO
full consciousness, and We started for
The house, bearing him between w ON
an improyised litter.
What night we passed, with the
writings and lamentations Of the poor
mother at the loss OF one sou aud the
gripping oi the other!
"IIaylng been 1n assistant surgeon in
my Younger days. found on cXamiua-
ton Of Williams frozen eXtrcn'tics
hat all his toes ON both feet had 10
come Of, aud ell the fingers OF the left
hand. But managed TO save the thumb
and index finger on the right one, the
,ossession OF which has enabled him to
do many things that the want of them
would have prevented him from acsom-
pllshing.
"a few days after had performed
the operation on his hands and ieet
(which was quite painless to the boyl.
he told us that the wolves had swooped
down on them all at once from the crest
Of a ueighboring knoll. and In their
haste TO scramble up the tree their gun
was dropped. and this vicious beasts sat
down on thsir launches 10 deliberately
starye them out"
In a thoughtful way De Hertle arose
from his chair. knocked the ashes from
i.s :s!:.=. .ad, ssi= =ss::.:sS me goodnight.
departed for his wigwam.-N. y. Led
ger.