The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-05-07
Q2e DraaGaaasaers
ana the Wolf
I..o..4,..<,.c>sc!CC OlaCI

Napoleon sACtOAASo Aau eSs dn
3rronce ablaze with military glory.
4 Iaan Potoir and Antoine SaYary
.rere U French boys of the depart
4 nent ."s of the Yonne. They shared
4 eyerything-were nearly always to-.
Hgethcr.
e;a by the emperor a number ofsre,.
] fruits m belonging to tho village were
4 allowed to return home for visit,
and the two boys heard their sto-
Ties of the last campaign.
As Jean could beat the drum and
3antoinc was an excellent fifer, the
recruits begged the parents Of the
5bovs to let them 60 to the army
land share in the glory of taking the
acapital of the czar.
The parents agreed, md when the
arecruits went back the boys went,
j too. and were accepted by the mus
5tering officer. He said he needed a
q Good drummer and ffer and was
4 4eSlal to see them. Long before they
/ Teachcd Moscow both had become
apy:me favorites in the regiment.
It was u dreary time for the
French army when it started away
oil that famous retreat from the
city of the czar. Winter had set
in. the earth was white with deep
SHOWS, the air was bitter and cold.
Before they had gone far hundreds
of soldiers froze to death.
At night the wolves would fill the
frosty air with their howls, and
when a man dropped out. of the
/ ranks they would rush down upon
him and dcvour him before his COM
radcs. They were large and fierce,
and they came in great packs and
sometimes could not be driven off,
not even by fusillade.
One evening near sundown Jean
came to Antoine and said he had
discovered farmhouse near by.
lie thought they might get some
warm milk for themselves by tell
ing the people how exhausted they
were.
The boys stole off, Jean with his
drum and Antoine with muskeI
and some ammunition which had
been given him by a soldier who
had been transferred to one Of the
ambulances.
When they reached the place, in
stead of farmhouse they found q
hut nearly ready to crrlnble to
pieces and no sign of any one near.
As they passed into the hut some
thing rushed out with snarl, and
the boys found they had disturbed a
large gray wolf.
Suddenly there entered the cabin
a long, low howl that startled the
young musicians.
"Thc wolves have come" cried
Antoine, springing up and running
to the door, which they had shut.
On the snow stood huge wolf
whose sides shone like silver, show
ing that he wore q gray coat. He
seemed to head the pack. lie had
brought them ali on the boys track.
Antoine was for firing at the
wolf, but Jean said it would only
precipitate en- attack. They had
hopes that some Of Prince Murat's
horscmen would come along and
rescue them without further dan
gers.
By and by the wolves became
bolder. The boys saw them come
almost close enough to be struck
with q stone. They had discovered
the young musicians, and now they
began to set up their long, peculiar
howl.
Jean seized the drumsticks and
beat the rataplan in hopes Of fright
ening the beasts off, but the music
made them howl the more.
"Here they come, Jeanp exclaim-
ed Antoine. fIook to the door! If
they throw themselves against it in
body, it will not keep them out"
The pack in front had risen and
were rushing forward. Antoine
thrust the muzzle of his musket
through crack and fired into the
bowling, struggling mass.
Several yelps of pain attested the
power of the shot. The wolves
drew off, carrying with them dead
comrade, and devoured him before
the boys eyes.
Antoine had reloaded. They
stood against the door and awaited
another attack.
jean seized his drum. The little
musician of the Yonne played as he
had never played before. His drum
sticks few, warming his half frozen
fingers and filling the old shanty
with strange music, the roll call Of
Napoleon's army.
The hut was not high, and its
roof was covered with heavy snow
Suddenly the boys saw several
wolves leap up and disappear. They
seemed to have bounded toward the