Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14


bare Of branches almost to the top
4o our daggers in your left hands, they
are upon us,' cried Sholto. who. standing
with his face to the west. had lower hori-
ION and more light than the others The
three men had cast their palmers' cloaks
from their shoulders, and now stood lean
ing a little forward, breathing hard as they
waited the assault of foes whom they be-
heyed to be frankly diabolic and instinct
with all the powers of hell. This REQUIRED
greater courage than storming many forti-
ficatIOnS.
Almost as he spoke ShoIto became aware
that fierce rush of shaggy beasts was
crossing the Scanty grass toward him. He
saw a vision of RED mouths cleaning teeth
and hairy breasts, into the Ieapng chaos of
which he plunged and replunged his sword
till his arm ached. Mostly the stricken died
swapping and tearing at each other, but
ever ana anon one stronger than the rest
would oNeTiedp the barrier of dead and
dying wolves that grew up in front of HIM,
and Sh"lto would feel the teeth click clean
and hard upon the mail of his arm or thigh
before he could stoop to dispatch the brute
hand.
The rush upon Sholto's side fortunately
dld not last long. but while it continued the
battle was strange and silent and grim,
ms hSht OF man and beast. AS the youth
a, iast cleared his front of hairy monster
mat had sprung at his throat, he found
iilihSeiI sufficiently free to look round the
trunk OF the blasted pine that ne might see
now 1t Jared with his companions
he same strange and weird conditions
pefmedted the earth and air
or Il moment all would be dark and then
lE!Sn on continuous flash would come the
"itdiTe, running about the tree tons and
&Hntlng up from the recesSes of the woods
dlabolic light. ''
AS he looked Sholto saw his father a
gigantic inquire standing black and militant
against the brightest of it. His mighty
hdhG SraSped huge wolf by the heels and
he swung the beast about his head as easily
10 he.
at nome With his living weapon Manse
1ad swept space about him clear and the
,aIs seemed to have fallen back III terror
beIure such d strange enemy
tut what of the Lord James? Oyeriaan
ing the PIE OF Gead and dying wolves which
ms sword and dagger had made and from
winch savage heads still bit and snaried lp
at MN as he went. ShOItO ran round IN caair
the young Lord of 4.yondale AT the first
HdSI after leaving the tree trunk he was
nowhere to be seen but "A second revea,n6
nm lying on the ground. with four great
shaggy beasts bending over him and tear
ING herceIY at his gOTget and breast arnor
w w ltil d ioud shout Sholto was among them.
ne passed his sword through and through
the largest, and in its fan the Wounded
monster turned and bit savaseIy at the
doreieg OF companion. The bone cracked
dS rotten branch snaps underfoot and in
another moment the two animals ware roii
ing over and over, locked together in the
death grapple. " "
Once, twice, thrice. Sholto struck rfgb+
and left The rest of the beasts seanin7gI,r
astonished by the sudden fierce aTtaek
turned and fled Then pushing off a huge
life IN Tl5 Grute winch lay gasping out its
nd man, ne dragged James Douglas back tn
rre tIee winch had been their fortress and
pr0Pped him up against the trunk.
AT tne same moment a long WaiIino cr,,
from the forest called the wolves off ThaI,
retreated suddenly, disappearing apnarenfIy,
by by magic into the depths of the forest
abn,,t thGit DEAD In quTering heaps ali
81
equal fight had been fought. '-'e 'ii
Mahse the Brawny flung down the dad
oiL ~, whose mead had served him with such
deadly effect as a weapon against his
brethren. The beast had long baan da ms
WIN skull smashed in and a NICK d.
i ic ated by the sweeping blows it rad dealt |
''Sholto! My Lord Jamesr" criad ,ro,,so
coming up . them hastily, how is it with
We are both here" answered bie CT,
Soihe ana help me with thu Lord James |
his armorr' 'e e7S Oh |
Alter the disappearance of the wolves the |
uhedrthly brllIance Of the wildfire grad |
and less frequently P''0i
But another hail from Sholto revealed 10 |
-hallse the whereabouts of his companions, |
a is presently ne also was on his knees be- |
side ths young Lord of Avondale.
Shoito gave him into the strong ar,,os or |
Malise and stood erect to listen for a1,I- -
heWa! OF the attack The wise smith ub1sa
skll as a leech was proverbial. csrefuIII |
Ielt James Douglas all over in the dark |
ness ana took advantage of every flicker of |
summer lightning to examine him az vii |
as his armor would permit
help me to loosen his gorget and ease |
MN OF MS BODY mall sad MaIise at last: |
ne has gotten a bite or two bur mot bire |
that appears serious l think he has I,I3 |
tainted from the pressure
ohoito bent down and with his dagger |
cur, string by string, the stout leathern |
twists which secured the knights mall
And as he did so his father opened If ont
with powerful fingers to ease the weight |
upon the young mans chest.
Presently, with a long sigh, James Doug
las opened his eyes.
Where are thu wolyes?" he said with n |
grimace of disgas
Sholto told him that all that were left
alive had tor the present, at least. disap-
peared.
Ugh. the filthy brutes!" said Lord Jamas
Il fought till the stencil of their hot |
breaths seemed to t-f1e me- l felt my head |
run round like dog in fit, and down | |
Went What happened after that@'
This said Malse, sententiously. point
ing 10 the heaps CT dead wolves which were
becoming more apparent as the blue fame
rose and fell like huttering pulse along
the horizon.
Then to one or the other of YOU owe
my life!' said Lord James, reaching a hand
to both.
''Sholto dragged you from under half a
dozen of the devils.' said Malise
My father it was who brought You to-
said Sholto.
thank you both with all my heact-for
this as for all the rest. l know not where
TO begin. indeed said James Douglas
GIVE me your hands l can
stand upright now"
So saying. and being assisted by Maiise
he rose to his feet.
VIII they come AGAIN." he asked. as
with an intense disgust he SURVEYED the
battlefield in the intermittent light over the
marshes.
Listen SAID Malise.
The low bowling of the wolves had re-
treated farther but seemed to retain more
and more Of its strange human character
La Meffraye! La Meffraye,' they seemed |
to wall, with curious swelling upon the
last syllable.
Il hear only the yelling of the Internal
brutes," said the Lord James. They seem
TO be calling on their patron saint, the wo-
man whom We in the house of the |
poor cripple. ] sure l saw her going to
and fro among the devils and encouraging
them to the assault"
It's black work at the best" answered |
Malise; these are no common wolves who
would dare to attack armed men-demons
of the nethermost pit rather, driven on by