Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-05-14
balancing himseIf,on the board.

gfaY-maned sentinelkept his place direct
ly under John, and glared up with evil,
unwinking eyes. The boy twisted round
to rest the arm on which he had been
leaning. His hand slipped, and for an
agonizing moment he struggled TO retain
his place on the rafter. Below, the wolf
pack fought for place under him. The
big wolf snapped and tore. then settled
back for an instant, and launched him
self at Johns ankle.
John cried out as the long tusks were
driven into his heel, but the very agony
of this assault did tor him what he could
not have done without it, and he caught
himself and lay back, painting, along the
board. But he knew that soon his hands
would grow numb, and that from sheer
helpIessness he would topple down
among those gaunt murderers.
Somewhere beyond the wooded ridge
that bounded the valley the moon must
be rising, for its subdued radiance was
reflected by the snow outside, and shone
with weird light on the floor below and
the rafters above. John CROPPED behind
him, measuring his margin OF safety, and
suddenly touched the skinning knife that
he had laid upon the shelf.
He picked ii up carefully, for his hands
were stiff with the cold. With infinite
pains he laid the edge against the end OF
the board on which he was seated, and
began to drive it into the Soft wood with
his fist. He worked slowly, but in a
short time he had a pine stick, an inch
square and five feet long He cut one OF
the sleeves from his woolen shirt and slit
il into strips. With these flannel strips
he bound the knife firmlyto the end OF
the stick, then lay back for minute and
rested.
With the improvised lance gripped in
his right hand, he took firm hold OF
the rafter. He fastened his eyes on spot
between the shoulder blades OF the lead
er of the pack, directly below him. then
lunged with all his strength and struck
down. The knife struck the big wolf on
the side of the neck, ripped through the
tangled mane-and the next instant John
was all but torn from his seat. He tried
in vain to cling TO his harpoon; in the
nick OF time he dropped it, and swung
back, just as the wolf leaped for his
throat.
John lay painting and clingng TO the
pole. The attempt had failed miSerably ;
he had thrown away his only weapon ;
the cold was creepind into his body and
chilling it. The leader OF the pack,
after tearing the lance from its name, had
settled back sullenlY. ''lll stick on till
Pm frozen stiff, and then they'll get me y
John mumbled.
The moon must have risen clear OF the
fringe of trees on the distant ridge, for
the light that was reflected into the room
was clear and white. 1t shone on the
wolves, and seemed TO light their merci-
less eyes with sort OF phosphorescent
glow. And suddenly the moonlight was
reflected from lhe surface OF five gallon
oil can, propped against the roof at the
farther end OF the rafter on which he was
sitting.
Iohn remembered the can. Isaac had
put il there to catch trickle OF water that
came in during fall shower. And a mo-
ment, desperate plans for using this un-
promising implement formed in the boys
mind without pausing to reflect, he be-
gan to crawl cautiously along the rafter
toward the can.
The wolves danced along beneath him,
but Johns eyes were fixed on the oil
can. Finally he got it, and backed along
the frosty pole TO his former perch. 1t
was one of those big, square cans, uSu-
ally called "export cans" BY cutting
cross-shaped incision in the top and
bending the sharp ends down and in,
Isaac has prepared it for its duty OF
catching the trickle from the roof.
For long time John sat shaping and
bending the sharp edges. When he fin
ished, the four prongs formed by the
cuts in the top were still pointed into the
can, and the extreme points were bent
toward each other. John took from the
other end of the board chunk of bacon,
and placed il in the can. A moment
later he dropped can and all among the
wolves.
The pack leaped away from the glis-
tening object and stood crowded in a
circle at safe distance. Then one OF
them, tempted by the scent Of the bacon,
approached. He began to sniff longing
ly at the open end OF the can; but before
he could attempt TO reach the chunk OF
bacon within, the big leader leaped upon
the other beast, and sent him Sprawling
back.
John held his breath. The' big wolf
was inspecting the interior of the can.
He thrust his muzzle toward the opening
and drew back. Again he thrust out his
muzzle; then, with a snarl OF defiance,
he showed his head into the opening,
and grabbed for the bacon.
The next moment, with a snarl OF rage
and dismay that echoed weirdly from the
can, he leaped backward. During The
next few moments he ran wildly about,
and strove to drag the can from his head
with his paws. For moment his COM
panions regarded him with fearful eyes.
Then the one nearest the door bolted.
Within twenty seconds the room was
empty, except for the big wolf with the
can over his head. He was now backing
round in circle; sometimes he stopped
long enough TO claw frantically at the
can, which had become entangled and
locked in his coarse name.