The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
THE BLACK DOUGLAS.
BY s. r. CROCKETT.
c~Ory-reAt. 1898. sy s. r. croet.iL
CHAPTER XIX.
TEE BATTLE WITH THE wEREwoLvEs.

let US get out OF tnls neIiiSn placer Crtec
James Douglas so socn as he had seen with hi
eyes that which lay within tho bed chamber
Of the witch woman and made certain that Il
was all over with CGsar Martin.
So the three men issued out into the gloom
OF the night and made their way to the stable
wherein they had disposed their horses &C
carefully tho night before.
The door lay on the ground amashed and
broken. It had been driven to kindling wood
from within. It's inner surface was dinted
and riven by the iron shoes OF the frightened
steeds. but the horses themselves were no.
where 10 be found. They had broken their
halters and vanished. The three Scots were
left in the heart OF the enemies country with
out means Of escape save upon their own feet.
But the horror which lay behind them In the
house Of La Mefrraye drove them on.
Aimost without knowing whittier they went
they turned their faces toward the west. in the
direction in which lay Machecoul. tho castle
Of the dread lord Of all the Pays du Retz. Ma
lise. as was his custom. walked in front. Sholt)
and the Lord James Douglas a step behind.
A chill wind from the sea blew through the
forest. The pines bent soughlng toward the
adventurers. The night grew denser and
blacker about them. as. with the wan waters
OF the marismas on one side and the sombre
arches 81 the forest on the other. they ad-
vanced. sword In hand. praying that that which
should happen. should happen quickly.
But as they went the woods about them grew
elamorous with horrid noises. All the evil
beasts Of the world seemed abroad that night
in the woods o. Machecoul. Presently they
issued forth into a more open space. The
rrayish dark of the turf beneath their feet
spread further Off. The black blank wall:of
the pines retreated and they found themselves
suddenly with the stars twinkling infinitely
chill and remote above them.
They were now. however. no more alone. for
round them circled and echoed the crying OF
many packs Of wolves. In the forest of Mache-
coul the guardian demons OF its lord had been
let loose. and throughout all its borders the
poor peasant folk shivered in their beds or
crouched behind the weak defences OF their
barred doors For they knew that the full
pack never hunted in the PAYS du Retz without
bringing death TO some wanderer found de-
~fenceless within the.borders Of that region OF
dread.
let us stay here said Sholto. IF these
bowling demons attack us. We are at least in
somewhat better case to meet them. aud fight
It out till the morning. than In the dense dark
ness Of the woods"
In the centre OF the open glade in which
they found themselves they stumbled against
the trunk OF a pine which had been blasted by
lightning. 1t still stood erect. with its withered
branches stretching. bare and angular. away
from the sea. About this the three Scots
posted themselves. their backs 10 the corruga-
tons Of the dead stump. and their swords ready
in. their hands to deal out death to whatever
should attack them.
Well might Malise declare the powers of evil
were abroad that night. At times the three
men seemed wholly rinRed with devilish cries.
Yells and bowls. as of triumphant iends. were
borne to their ears upon the western wind.
The noises approached nearer. and presently
out OF the dark Of the woods shadowy forms
Glided. and again Sholto heard the soft pad
pad OF many feet. Cleaning eyes glared upon
them az the wolves trotted out and sat down
in a wide circle TO wait for the full muster Of
the pack before rushing on their prey.
Shoto knew we'll how those in the service
OF Satan we're able to change themselves into
the semblance of wolves. and he never doubt
ed for a moment that he and his friends were
face to face with the direct manifestations OF
the neither pit. Nevertheless Sholto MacKim
was by nature of a stout heart, and he resolved
that il he had 10 die. it would be as we'll to die
as became a CAPTAIN of the Douglas Guard.
The blue leme Of summer lightning mo-
m%entarily lit up the western sky. TIL men
could see the great. gaunt pack Of wolves sit
ting upon their haunches.or moving restlessly
10 and fro across each other. while from the
denser woods behind rose the rowling of fresh
levtes. fastening to the assistance Of the first.
sholto noted in especial one gigantic she wolf.
which appeared at every point OF the circle and
seemed 10 muster and encourage the pack to
the attack.
The wildfre fickered behind the Jet black
silhOuettes Of the dense trees. so that their tops
stood against the pale sky as IL carved in ebony.
Then the night shut down darker than before. |
Asthn soundless lightning wavered and bright
sned. the shadows OF the wolves appeared to
start forward and ratreat uhiIa fha ppiaa ~ |
their howling carried with it some diabolical
suggestion of discordant human voices.
La Medraye! La Mefrraye! La Mef-
raye!'
50 to the excited minds Of the three Scots
the wolf legions seemed to be crying with one
beasts Of THE wood were obeying the summons
the Lord James Douglas: Great saints
hand. Icannot endure much more of this"
.b,Sntsand SUI where you are. 1t is our only
James Douglas had been a doubtful soldier OF
his company.
1T was better to find a tree that we could
Eestlyeness which. however, came too late.
eSr thu bae{ Il, dared are not move NOV H and TIE great trunk
branches almost 10 tho top.
uoo 1om a, d daGGs5s IN your left hands; they are
face to the west. had a lower horizon and more
ng9t Than the others The three men had
- alillVA Nl'uh " NIlFll hAb
and now stood leaning a little forward. breath
Ing hard as they waited tho assault Of foes
whom they believed TO be frankly diaholic and
instinct with all the powers OF hell. This re-
CURED greater courage than storming many
Almost as he spoke ShOlto became aware
that a ierce rush OF shaggy beasts was cross
ing the scarty grass toward him. He saw a
yIlon OF red mouths, cleaning teeth and
eeiry, breasts. into the leaping chaos OF which
ne plunged and replunged his sword till his
ann ached, Mostly the stricken died snap:
plng and tearing at each other. but ever and
anon one stronger than the rest would over
lean the barrier OF dead and dying wolves that
grew w, in front OF him. and Sholto would feel
the teeth click clean and hard upon the mail
o. his arm or thigh before he could stoop to
despatch the brute with the dirk which he
grASped IN his left hand.
The rush upon Sholto's side fortunately did
not Iast long. but while it continued the battle
was strange and silent and grim. this fight Of
man and beast. As the youth at last cleared
rs 'front.' OF a hairy monster that had sprung,aJ
hlsfthroat he found himself sufficiently free
% !o3k round the trunk OF the blasted pine
that he might see how 1t Jared with his COM