El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-05
The GLuffon
A short story.

l. One nearly always does do so in
] those vast, frozen forests Of the north.
Anyhow he looked up sharply, and
: looked straight into horribly cruel.
: glazing eyes. But eyes are common
] in the forest as darkness approaches.
especially when snow has fallen. The
man could not tell whose those eyes
might be. and put them down as. those
of a fox or martin, or even-and this
reminded him that he would do well
to get home before dark-a wolf If
/ he had known who really was the
owner of those eyes, he would not only
I have pulled up the trap he was then
setting. but as many more Of those he
had set during the day as the darkness
would let him.
The owner Of the eyes was smaller
than a bear, and larger than a wild
/ cat or badger-his black brown coat
looked like a mat that had been at
tackled by the moth; his bushy tail was
ragged; his short head held jaws OF
great power for one of such size, his
teeth made one open ones eyes; his
nearly white claws were not the claws
of an INNOCENT creature, and his gen
eral appearance was bear like and
mOrOse. He had also an extraordinary
way of getting alOug,lik a dog that is
i'll, moving with his back arched and
his legs dragged along anyhow More
over, his appearance was not mlslead-
lu8s lot every man nAQ named MIN LuG
gluttOn. That was his real name, IN
deed-EluttOn.
In a minute or two the man went
away. The gluttOn followed him
stealthily from tree to tree to a vii
Before the man had reached the vii
lage he was also followed by two
wolves, but, though hungry, these did
not attack, being two only in place Of
Then the glutton turned silently ana
shambled off back on his own trail 10
the trap. The wolves had not seen
him
Once. on the way ne came to clear
Ing where a number of white hares
We're playing in the light OF a newly
risen moon, but they saw or scented
him-he had an Objectionable smell
about him-and darted off like
shadows
Then he reached the trap, and set 10
work in a careful and business like
fashion that was rather amazing. He
broke into the trap from the rear, not
the front, turned it over gingerly with
wary forepaw- sprung 1t in cOnSe- /
Quence, dragged 1t up, at thA bait
and carried the now harmless engine
Of destruction to a thicket, where he
hid it.
But this was not all This old Gre
ture Of unprCSOSsessing appearance, !
who seemed TO have understanding
far beyond that OF most wild creatures,
now followed the mans back trail, the
trail he had made since the morning,
and, of course, soon came TO another
trap The trap was carefully hidden,
but not enough to deceive the glutton-
He treated it in a like disrespectful
manner 10 the first
Again. then, he turned to the back
trail, slouching along now with as
great q show of excitement as he ever
permitted himself. except when angry.
The third trap was not so hard to
find, because there was something In
1t which struggled The captive was
none other than a beautiful dark sable [
nearly black was this sable, with a
coat worth much gold coin. But the
gluttOn, didn't care He seemed to
take a fiendish delight in destruction.
There was no need to approach the d,
trap carefully from its harmless end
this time, but he did so, and speedily I
put the sable out of its pain with a /
single crunch of his terrible paws. he !
tore the dead creature from the trap /
and fed upon it. eating only a portion. !
but rending the rest to tatters, and !
streWing these On the snow. The trap I
also he treated in similar fashion, and ]
started again on the back trail---ap- {
parently Unsuitable.
The fourth trap held only bait, which /
was duly consumed after the trap had |
been put out Of action by sheer cum 4
ming that was almost uncanny.
Then on again-always on the back /
trail
It was, however. just after he had !
left the fifth trap. and was on his way
to the sixth, that the gluttOn heard I
something which really checked his /
onward shamble-one cannot call it |
march-Of destruction. Suddenly, with !
out the least warning, there rang
through the still forest the long, mis- |
cradle howl of a wolf
The glUtton stopped dead, his head /
looking back over his shoulder, lis |
tening. After a few minutes, during /
which the glutton remained quite 4
motiOnless, the howl was repeated 4
from behind him, but much nearer.
Then the glutton, his back now /
arched more than ever, growing at in /
terVals to himself, began. not to run 4
EDWARDS. but to shamble round on the
snow. His head was held up, and he /
was examining the tree trunks AS a /
matter Of fact, he was looking for a /
tree with a rough bark, for only such, I
1 think. could he climb.
At last he found a mighty forest 4
giant to suit him, and slowly and any-
thing but elegantly, climbed ". In I
the cup formed by the branching Of /
the collected snow as he could and 4
then sat down, still growing and /
glaring-to wait
There was a pause of some minutes, I
then a sharp zap, another. and tEen. !
all together, the deep baying Of /
wolves in chorus And at the same in /
slant a big grayish lynx, whom the /
gluttOn had not seen before, but who /
time as she lay eating a weasel, crept /
swiftly out from under a bush and 4
darted quickly up a neighbOring tree,
where the gIUttOn could see her eyes /
glowing as she lay crOuched along a !
branch.
Swiftly the loud baying swept on /
towards them, echOing through she /
forest with a terrifying din, until at /
last there dashed up among the tree !
trunks Is dark bodies, going like the /
wind They were wolves, with heads /
down and tails Up, in full cry on a 1
trail-his trail
The aforesaid gluttOn, however, sat !
where he was. and glared and growled /
down at the dripping jaws and lolling I
tongues of his foes, as the pack quickly /
unravelled his wanderings, and bayed /
him DANGEROUSLY beneath the tree.
Then he curled up and seemed 10 20 4
to sleep. but / have my doubts whether I
he did sleep really. Dawn came, and |
found him still there. 1t found. also, 4
the wolves still there, for wolves have 4
a wonderful patience.
About two hours after dawn, how
ever, there grew into the quletness Of |
the scene a beautiful and far away I
musical ringing 1t drew nearer rap /
idly. filling the white glades with sill
very melody 1t was the sound Of 4
sleigh bells. and it was coming this