Middletown transcript., 1902-11-15

= ~ = ~ - -Att-E NAAN- A4A0A y
frantic ct the taste of blood, tore and bit
| the poor creature until he lay quite still.
/ Then two shots rang out, full and sharp.
and couple 81 wolves that had jumped
/ upon the pung toppled over dead, and
| the rest Of the pack drew of bit and
stood painting with their long, red tongues
thrust out and their ears elevated, listen
ing and peering forward as if to see the
cause Of their friends falling prone in so
strange q manner. A few, less wondering
felt upon their dying comrades and tore
them to pieces.
'sSit still in the pung, Priscilla; this ia
my friend, Reginald Stanley, and we will
try to save you"
"Give me your flint box" was all the
answer she made, and handing it forth,
he loaded and fred again and again, while
j his companion did the same. Still the
wolves kept their places, yelling and
fighting and falling over each other az
the shots came, but seemingly not much
dislnayed, there were SO many Of them:
and far back in the woods huge, gray
wolf encouraged them by yelps and barks.
Suddenly blaze sprang upward in
dead tree that stood over Priscilla's head.
She had fred it directly she had sue
ceeded in getting the sparks from the
flint. This, then, was why she had
wanted the flint box.
''That was good thought" said the
lieutenant.
Marvellous" said his friend, and she
turned to gaze into his face as the blaze
shot upward and the flames Tapped other
trees near by and threw sparks into dead
brush, until in less than two minutes
q great FIRE blazed heayenward and the
heat grew excessive. The wolves drew
back in alarm, yelping their dismay and
running from side to side, loath to leave
their prey and yet SO terrified by the fire
that they made no further attack. Fl
nally, when the two young men sent
well-directed yolley Of shot and powder
into the midst of the largest group, the
wolves, as if directed by signal from the
old gray wolf standing on knoll at
distance, turned tail and fed. Soon not
one could be seen but the bloody car
casses of the dead animals.
Poor Dobbin was, too, quite dead, and
shockingly mutiIated. Priscilla turned
sick at the sight Of him, and woman
fashion, now that the trouble was SO
nearly ended, began to be nightly
afraid.
"Oh, save me-" she cried, wildly.
why, Priscilla, you have saved your.
self and the rest Of US" said the lieu
tenant, heartily. 81 never saw a neater
thing than the firing of that dead tree.
Lucky the wind had cleared it of snow.
POUNDS, but it is hot; we. must get back
to the inn. We will leave the pung and
Jock, +" speaking with mock earnestness
to frighten the negro.
''No, no; don'tee leave Jock, Marse
Digby, for de wolves to eat all up"
"Well, then, will not; but We will
leave the pung. Reginald, you can take
Priscilla up behind yon and / win take
Jock. Climb, blackie, for all you are
worth"
Jock clambered up behind the lieu
tenant with wonderful agility, considering
his age and feebleness, and sat there a
moment in terror, his eyes rolled up and |
his face contorted, as he cried out:
"Now, Marse Digby, is you gwine ter
take me back to de debbil doctor?'
"Well, suppose do; wouldn't you be
glad to get back to him after what you
have been through in the woods yonder?''
mo, fore God, Marse Digby, I'd take
another turn with de wolves, sure, sartin,
/ would; COS de wolves kill me sudden,
but de doctor he kill by inches. Ise
beer most dead lots er times"
"Well, l won't take you back, l prom
ise."
: Thereupon the negro began embracing |
the young mans back and arms 60 en-
Enthusiastically that he threatened laugh
ingly to give him over to the doctor if be ,
did not desist
Meanwhile the young Englishman had 8
taken up behind him on his powerful q
horse the beautiful girl, who, not yet re- l
covered from the shock of her late peril, | +
,lung to him closely and trembled so that O
ae was fain to put his right arm backward 9
md help hold her erect, while he guided t
lis horse with the left. lii
do not fear any longer, Mistress Pris-
lila" he said at last, reassuringly my p
riend will take care of the old dame and 81
viii care for you; the peril is past, and !
Ilthough the horse is dead You have q
very reason to be thankful" RI
"And indeed and indeed am thankful =
'ut I know not how we are to continue P
nr journey; it is necessary that my aunt q
hould 20 on tomorrow" :,
Her companion noticed the hesitation "
WINGED at speaking Of her companion, D,
nd ne was convinced that she had not "
Ioticed in her excitement that Jock had n
limself revealed his identity, so he af- nj
ected to be unaware of it, and to help
Ter plan for her journey on the morrow. pl
"You may take my horse,p he said. Al
He is as often driven as ridden, and / | la
Eill hire another to take me to Newcas- 81
Ie." -
How good you are to strangerl I do "a
ot see why you should he 50 kind, al
"0h. it is nothing. You would do as RI
luch for another, would you not2" Il.
"Yes, Iauppose so; but still am none al
he less grateful. Have you friends in b.
Iewcastle2' hi
Zone or two whom ] know slightly, ri
nat is all; but have letters to the Gov az
rnor and expect to do surveying for M
i'm as well as for others-Mr. Lanford
nd Mr.. Mead. Lieutenant Digby tells sh
10 that you often visit at the Governors wi
i'd that his niece is your friend.n
eyes, Portia' 10 my friend, but / do sci
ot visit her ofteuer than twice a wear an