The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1907-04-05
TUPELO. MISSISSIPPI. FRIDAY APRIL 5, 1907
The Two Friends United.
By COL. w. L. CLAY ON.

,OII dC u COIlSluCIdUlC uloCdllS
they could hear an occasional
howl in different directions, bl
all the while approaching COM
mon center, as if concentrating
for a raid. After while, as the
old trapper- hunters approached
in the ir4ction Of the comm IN
rendezvous, hoping to get a snot
with the old shot gan, the howl
ing and growing became so r
rife that even Sneak, the fl n
maker, saw he had over done the
matter, and 10, who was some
what superstitious any way, felt
the hair rising on his head, his
knees smote together like those
of Belshazzer at sight OF the
handwriting on the wall in his
Babylon palace, his face blanched
and terror was depicted in every
linament of his countenance, and
with one wild scream of fright he
bounded aWay toward the little
skirt of timber bordering the
small stream. with Sneak and the
dog following, nd the wolves in
hot pursuit anu gaining on them
all the while. Joe kept a grip on
the old shot gun and Sneak had
an old Holster pistol in his hand,
which he carried along more to
scare than to kill. The smell of
the assafeotida seemed to have
so charmed the varments that
they knew no fear. Closer and
still closer they came to the hunt
ers, and at one time it seemed
they would tear them to pieces
! before they could reach a tree on
which to take refuge. Finally
they reached a small tree grow
ing on the bank of the stream,
and at once sought protection in
it's branches. But the poor dog,
not being able to climb, and the
owners not being able to carry
him up the tree, and he being
frightened almost to death,
moved with the velocity of the
wind toward the camp, while the
wolves. being attracted by the
assafoedita on .Ioe's shoes, cir
cled themselves around the tree
and kept up a continuous howl
and bark. Every once and
awhile Sneak fired off his old
Holster pistol in the direction of
the wolves, but more to scare
them than with the hope of doing
any damage to their life or limb.
After having remained up the
tree till almost daylight, Sneak
! felt his desire for fun again ris-
ing in him, and so persuaded Joe
| if he would only turn loose his
blunderbuss among them, the
wolves would disperse. But Joe
demurred, being fearful the gun
would kick him out of the tree.
Sneak, however, induced him to
overcome this scruple by assist
ing him to tie himself securely TO
a limb of the tree so the gun
could not throw him to the ground
by it's rebound. Expecting to get
a chance to shoot a wolf from the
ground, Joe had put in heavy
charge. Finally, when all things
were ready, Joe pointed his gun
and fired amid the throng of rag
ing wolves. While they scatter
ed, Joe's gun rebounded with
such force against his shoulder
that he was precipitated from his
seat on the limb and left hanging
by the cord that bound his body,
with his feet near the uplifted
and outstretched neck and mouths
of the wolves below. Sneak, sit
ting at an elevated and secure
perch above, cried out, Joe,
keep them shanks outen the
reach O. them varmints, or you re
a goner. So Joe, with the
strength of despair, kept his legs
we'll up, while the wolves snarIed
and snapped at his feet. But
daylight, which drives the wild
animal to his den, coming on,
forced the wolves to seek the
shelter of their dens, and permit
| ted the hunters to descend from
their perch, Sneak having cut the
cord by which Joe was hanging
from the tree and letting him
fall to the ground. Joe especial
ly feeling redeemed from death
unhoped; with thankful and
grateful hearts they returned to
their camp, where the happy dog
met them with many demonstra-
tions of joy, and even the fun
loving Sneak never again trlfled
with the wolves in his night