Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-09-21

4
curly head and raised his chin.
"How old are you, Ivankay inquired
the prince.
"Ten years, noble prince" faltered
the boy; but, his eyes meeting those
OF the prince at that moment, he ceas-
ed to tremble, and the longer he looked
the more comfortable he felt.
"And you have slain q WOLFF" con-
tinued the prince.
"Yes, noble prince"
"And what had the wolf done to you,
Ivanka, that you should have taken
his lifeT
HE had seized our little Minka and
would have eaten her up" Ivanka
drew sharp breath.
"How terrible!'' exclaimed the
prince. But you-midget! How did
you dare to tackle such foe? 1t Is
Incredible! Come, tell me all about
1t. Begin at the beginning, Ivanka.
Ivanlxa gazed at the ground in ST.
lence. He twisted one leg around the
other and cracked all his knuckles In
succession, but the words would not
come.
"Speak, Ivanka, do" came wo-
F, mans coaxing voice from the gloom
Tell his high nobility how it happen
ed"
Another pause, and at length, In a
shy, hesitating voice, Ivanka began:
Mother had gone to the town in
the sledge, and father lay asleep on
the top of the stove. 1t was afternoon.
l was minding Minka, and we played
ut having n shop with bits Of pot from
the mug Minka broke. Then / remem-
bered it was time to cut the fodder and
feed the beasts, which l can do as
well as father now. So took the fod-
der knife and stole out. l left the door
open bit not enough to let the cold
In on father, but enough to hear Minka
if she cried. had fed the cows in the
byre and had got to the corner of the
house coming back, when heard
Minka scream"
AS Ivanka uttered the last word his
breath came fast. He tossed back his
locks with a sudden jerk of the head.
Like a gladiator preparing for COM
bat he threw out his chest, setting his
teeth, while his small, muscular fingers
contracting, doubling in like claws of
a falcon. Forgotten was the princely
presence with that piteous appeal
shifting his ears.
81 sprang forward" he continued,
"and saw Minka. She was on the
ground just outside the door, and over
her hung monster grim and terrible.
His wicked eyes cleaned red, and his
cruel teeth were long and sharp.
saw them as he lifted his bristling lip
to seize her in his jowl."
A dry sob arose in Ivanka's throat
and made him pause. He coughed it
impatiently away.
1T seemed to me then-just for a
moment of horror-as though my limbs
were bound and l could not move, I'M
til the besat began to drag Minka away.
At the sight strength came to me, and,
with yell, l threw myself upon him."
'You were not afraid?" put in the
prince, who had never taken his eyes
off the boy since he began to speak.
II did not think of fear" replied
Ivanka. II though Of my poor little
Minka, and, oh, how fiercely l hated
that monster Hate kills fear" he
added refiectively.
"And them? inquired the prince.
"Oh, then he dropped Minka, and
over and over we rolled in the snow.
he snarlng and worrying my sheep
skin. He would have made an end of
me but for my sheepskin." And the
boy patted his breast and looked him.
self over complacently.
After that he shook me until my
bones ratified in my skin. Then /
was under him, and my mouth was
full Of his hair, and l was so spent
that l would have let him finish me,
but Minka cried, Ivanka, Ivankav
and it seemed too hard to leave her.
1t was that moment / remembered
that still grasped the knife.
How l struggled round between his
mighty paws until my arm was free
to plunge the weapon in his throat l
know not, but l felt the blood gush
out over my face. And then-and then
Minka's voice went farther and far
Their away, and l seemed to be falling
as star falls through the air."
AS Ivanka ceased speaking a half
stifled sob was heard from the inter-
ior of the room. The prince had COW
cred his eyes with his hand as though
dazzled, yet the sun had gone down
and the place was more gloomy than
ever. The peasant stepped forward
out Of the shadows and stood before
the prince in the dim light of the win
dow. He took up the tale.
1T was the screams of the little one
that awoke me, your high nobility, and
l ran out. All, never shall 1 forget the
sight that met my eyes! There lay my
little son, dabbled in blood, and be-
side him the wolf on it's back, kicking
in death commissions. When 1 picked
up my Ivanka, l thought him dead,
and my heart would have broken had
he not at once opened his eyes.
'Minka,' he whispered-is she
hurt?'
My darling, no. l answered. she
screams too Justify to be hurt
"'And the wolf? He raised his head
from my shoulder and looked wildly
around.
to Had w., Lo-1 1t. II