El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-18
The E1opement
The Herald's Daily
ShortStory

both hands free to fight them"
The horse was running fast. Its feet
seemed hardly to touch the ground and
the snow was like hailstorm from us
hOofs- But the wolves came nearer
The leader was now alongside the
horse LOvin drew his revolver and
fired. The wolf dropped dead in the
snow but the others did not give up
the pursuit LOvin drew his sword and
dug his spurs into the heaving sides
of his horse. JassOm1a was cnnglng 10
the horses name.
Suddenly the horse stopped and stood
as if nailed to the spot
What is II, Loving
The well; we came near tum bling
into it."
JasSOmIa was about to make the sign
Of the cross.
There is no time for prayers Climb
into the willow. We can go no further.
The horse is played out"
He guided the horse to tie tree and
helped the girl to get up there Then
he jumped from the saddle, turned the
horse loose and took up his position
with his back against the tree, his
sword in one hand and the revolver in
the other and calmly awaited his fate.
JassOriia was clinging 10 the tree Ealf
dead with cold.
The wolves were there now, gath
cred in a lump. EOvin was about to
shoot but the horse dashed in between
him and the beasts, planted itself finn
~ on its fOrelegs and let fly his hind
legs. at the wolves. several OF which
dropped dead The others formed a
half circle and advanced A wolf tried
to attack il In the flank, but was hit
by a flying hOOf. Another tried near
the head but the maddened horse dug
its teeth through it's fur and il fell
back with a howl Of pain
For a while the noble ShoimOne beat
off all attacks. Its kicks were so well
aimed that the wolves never had a
chance 10 bite. The lrOnshOd hoofS
broke their skulls like paper Loyln
followed the fight with his eyes he
saw q faint hope Of salvation. Sud
denly an old grey wolf made rush
for him His revolver sDat fire The
wolf fell back, but IT was only wound
ed. Two more shots killed il and
last shot found another victim
LOvin threw the empty revolver
against the tree and aimed the point
Of his sword against an immense old
beast charging madly- The sword
passed clean through the ferOcious
beast Another buried its fangs In
the horses neck and tore out a piece
Of flesh The horse screamed, but
fought madly on.
Half a dozen wolves made for II,
Three of them died with broken skulls,
but the horse went down on its knees
now and in a moment its belly was
torn open The snow was red with
blood.
Lovin was fighting like a madman.
but his strength was going fast A
charging wolf wrenched the sword
from his hand. For a few moments
ne fought with his bare fists and two
wolves went down
TLlt was the lass; The rest tore
hin. 20 pieces. bowling with glee at
their feast.
From the top of the willow Jasso-
mia looked on. Mortified. She thought
she was going mad, but the instinct OF
preservation made her cling TO the
tree.
Dawn was breaking. The wolves
trOtted a few times around the tree
Elaring at the girl Then they sneaked
away
The north wind Continued to howl
and the snow was falling heavily COW
ering I'D the blood and the few rem
nants OF horse and man
Jassomia was crying softly. but the
road TO Frassmat was long and lonely
as ever.