River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-02-23


for a distance of Is miles, is a fact that
can be vouched for by several persons
still living. TO a giant like our young
Scotchman the mere weight was moth
Jig; il was the shape of the package
which rendered the novel task so diff
ticult. The shopkeeper had advised him
to put the -four in sack, but with true
Scottish grit he declined to buy one,
and quietly observing that the barrel
would be "unco usefu' to have i the
hocse," he calmly shouldered it and
walked away.
Long before daybreak on the morn
ing of the 3Oth he was on the road ex-
pecting, Notwithstanding his singular
burden, to reach home before night,
having told his people that he would
certainly do so, if alive. Indeed, the
4 tramp of II miles over any kind of
road was a trifing matter, and .aving
no idea Of the herculean labor he had
taken on himself looked for his re-
turn early in the afternoon.
But the cold, bitter cloudless night
fell and he had not come. Hour after
hour passed away, and Mrs. McGregor
had Just said: "Weel, nae doot the
BARN has met wi some delay ABBOTT his
trade and is biding j. the town a
night" when Jennie McGill, pointing
TO large ztaghound they had brought
with them from Scotland, exclaimed:
For guide sake! what's ailin' wi the
dog? He's snuffin' an tearin' ahint the
doore, seekin' TO win oo,!"
Startled by the girls question, all
now looked curiously at the hound, ly-
ing with his nose pressed close to the
crack at the bottom of the door, and
whining impatiently, as if in anger or
fear. Upon seeing that he was at last
noticed, the sagacious brute rose, and,
with bristling back and prieked ears,
trotted back and forth from door to
hearth and from hearth to door, al
most articulately asking some one to
follow him.
Father. mftherl" cried Jennie,
"Duncan's surely i some trouble; ole
Bose gi'es ma fause warnin'. There's
wild beasties O. some kin ABBOTT. Wen
better gang ava till his help"
The old folks were rather inclined to
ridicule Jennies fears, but she strenu-
ously insisted that something was
wrong, and seemed so deeply distressed
that finally the whole party became
somewhat alarmed and when she pro-
posed that John McGregor should go
ont with her to meet Duncan, no objec-
tons were offered The elder men
wished to 60 along, but Jennie said:
Ma ma, bjde ye here and TAX care O
mither and Mistress McGregor; Jack
and NELL brawly cor lane. My puir
laddie sail ma perish while l ha' ham
TO lift"
"Eh, JEANNE, woman, what's that?'
oueried Mrs. McGill. Your laddie, say
ye?"
AYE, mither," replied the row blush
ing girl; II may as weel confess till't,
Duncan and mes TO be welded i the
next year"
And then not waiting to hear the
shower Of surprised and pleased eNcla-
nations, the brave lass snatched down
her loaded musket, powder horn and
bullet pouch, and, accompanied by
John. who carried his rifle and led
the great hound in a leash, went out at
once into the cold, moonlit night.
After passing through the small log
and brush-encumbered clearing" the
anxious pair struck the "blazed" forest
trail, and followed it along the track
made by Duncan the day before.
Old Bose tugged and strained at his
leash, aud the further they advanced
the more eager and furious became his
demonstrations but he never once gave
tongue.
For two miles the girl and her com
panion held their way, seeing nothing
tut thick. bare trees, and hearing no
sound except the crunching of the crisp
snow beneath their own feet; but then,
on turning a slight angle around a
frozen swamp hole. they came upon a
sight which caused John to recoil in
horror and Jennie to scream aloud in
an agony of fright.
Directly in their path, resting up
right on its end, stood barrel of flour;
while for many feet around on either
side the snow was trampled down hard
and scattered over with patches of
blood broken bones and punches of
hair and fur! A little to one side lay a
stout hickory, bloOd-stained staff, rec
ognized as Duncan's at a glance, and
with a heart-rending cry poor Jennie
sank to the earth and sobbed out: "Oh,
my puir laddie! he's killed an torn to
pieces by the wild beasts!"
Meantime the dog had became abso-
lutely frantic with rage and could
barely be restrained by John, who was
carefully looking the ground over. Now
he spoke in tone which instantly ST
fenced the weeping girl;
JEANNE, my lass, I'm no that sure
that ony misfortin' has befa'n my
brither. There's no a wrack o. clothin'
nor a human bane ABBOTT here; an I'm
thinkin' that Duncan has got ava and
persisted wi cauld Wen fin him safe
and soond.'
Jennie sprang up with renewed hope,
and both followed the hound as he led
off into the wood at right angles to the
path. For hundred yards or so they
pushed through the dense underbrush,
when they came to a small, compare
lively open space, in the midst of which
stood a spreading beech tree. Here
they met 4 sight which might well
have appalled, the most fearless hearts;
for grouped about and under the tree
was a pack of at least 60 great gray
wolves, crouched en- their launches and
gazing up into the tree top with fierce,
longing eyes. If it had not been in the
daytime, or if the savage brutes had not
been rendered savage by the taste of
blood, the sudden appearance of two
grown persons would probably have
caused them 10 beat a hasty retreat;
but now, so eager were they in their
watch, they seemed not even to notice
the new arrivals.
John hastily tied the dog to a sap
ling so that he might not disturb his
aim mot daring 10 turn him loose, as
he would have been torn to pieces in a
momeut), and then he and Jennie fired
into the crowded pack together. Two
wolves fell, and, instantly, the whole
snarling, crashing mass of their COM
panious rushed upon and devoured
them Twice more, while the wolves
cannibalstic feast lasted, the brave pair
loaded and fired, and al one simultane-
Gus discharge two of the ravenous crea-