The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-06-10

villages of Saskatchewan. In Febru-
ary, 1907, they became extraordinar-
lily numerous in Paravgrad, an outly-
ing hamlet. One morning the pretty
birds were strutting on almost every
earth-covered, grass-grown roof, and
picking in every straw-littered yard
among the domestic fowl. So the
gentle vegetarians of Paravgrad
knew that many wolves must be
ranging the neighboring scrub
prairie.
The winter had begun very cary
and brought uncommonly deep snow.
No January thaw lessened the accu-
mutation. 1t lay so dry and light in
the forest, northward and eastward,
that wolves could not catch their
usual prey.
Out on the great plains the snow
was packed closely by the wind. In
February starving hordes came out
of the forests, and scattered in small
bands over many leagues of prairie.
Paravgrad village consists of forty
log cabins ranged in parallel files,
twenty on each side of the street. AS
a protection against wolves, the nam
let was fenced all round with barbed
wire. Its strands passed from cabin
to cabin, and were clouted on the
corner logs. The fencing was impene-
trable by wolves, but only five feet
high. Wolves might jump over it.
There was not a gun in Paravgrad.
Doukhobor religion prohibits taking
animal life. Pitchforks were plenty,
but no man or woman there would
use one as a weapon. These people
are consistent with their creed to a
degree inconceivable to any person
who does not know them They
would think it blasphemous to kill
a chicken for broth for sick per-
son. They will not kill or trap rats.
But they stop up rats holes. If the
vermin then die, these casuists say,
".That is the will of God"
, They pamper all their domestic
beasts. Companies of Doukhobor
men and women have often drawn
plow, harrow or wagon-to rest their
horses. They use steam and gaso-
line motors in agriculture as much as
possible, to spare animals from labor.
Wolves would not leap over the
Paravgrad fence in daylight. But
they might come over at night, un-
less it were heightened. In that case
the stock animals would be safe, be-
cause under cover. But what of the
beloved prairie-chickens, peculiarly
dear to the villagers, because their
mere presence certified Paravgraders
to be kind and devoted vegetarians?
These birds will not go under roofs
at night. They then shelter them
selves in straw or snow on the
ground. If wolves came over the
fence they might kill Gods
chickens"
This fear quite appalled, the young
brothers Vianovitch, Simeon and
Alexis. So frightened were they that
they resolved to drive seven miles to
the railway flag-station of Podavsko,
where trains pass bi-weekly, for a
sleigh-load of barbed wire, enough to
raise the village fence two feet more.
r But the wolves" said the elders
THAT must be as God WILL" said
Simeon.
"Yea-it is right to go for the
WIRE" said Alexis.
1t was perceived that they had "a
leading" Still, good deal of coun-
sci was impaired to them by the
elders. In consequence, they reached
Podavsko about noon with a sleigh
box tightly packed with straw, a lot
of loosely twisted straw ropes, and
the whole covered with quilted bed
comforters.
All this stuff they loaded on top OF
the reels of barbed wire, much to the
wonder of Michael Kelly, the station
agent. He watched them drive home
ward on a trail through scattered
patches of dwarf willow and poplar
About two miles out of Podavskc
the horses showed nervousness. Evi.
IDENTIFY wolves were near, hiding in
the scrub. But The Vianovitches saw
none until they we're nearly out oi
the scrub, within two miles of home
and aware that they might soon see
the smokes and roofs of Paravgrat
across 'rosebush" plain.
Now the wolves drew nearer. Oc
casionally one could be seen sneak
ing from clump to clump. There wa,
no estimating how many might be IL
the band. The boys, bred in Russia
and acquainted with immemoria
traditions of how wood-wolves act
expected a rush soon.
But they assumed that the brute
would pack and howl before maxim,
It. So the elders had foretold.
But the Vianovitches conclude,
not to await the chorus. This turne,
out to be sonud judgment, since N
warning howls were given. Perhap
they might have come had Alexis no
lighted straw rope.
Its flare, in broad, sunny daylight
was less visible than Its smoke. I'm
mediately much angry snarling wa