Adrift in the Wilds; Or, The Adventures of Two Shipwrecked Boys
Page 30
CHAPTER XXX.
THE WOLVERINES.
The Pah Utah was the only member of the party that did not manifest anyalarm or excitement. Carelessly removing his pipe from his mouth, heturned his head, looked at the animals a moment, and then resumedsmoking, without giving utterance to a single sound or changing hisposture in the least.
Tim O'Rooney, with an ejaculated prayer, caught up his rifle, andturning his back toward the fire, stood like a person driven at bay andwaiting to decide in his mind the best way to strike his last blow. Inhis haste and alarm his pipe fell from his mouth and lay unheeded at hisfeet. Shasta quietly picked it up, handed it to him, and motioned forhim to seat himself upon the ground again. Tim stared alternately at theanimals, the Indian and his pipe, and finally gathered the idea that noimminent danger threatened them.
Howard and Elwood also held their rifles ready for it charge from thegrowling wolverines, for such they were, while the Newfoundland growledin turn, and glared defiantly at them. The intelligent brute appeared tocomprehend that it would not do for him to sally out and charge upon theenemy's works, but he stood ready to fight and die in the defense of hisfriends.
"Why don't they attack us?" asked Elwood, seeing that they didn'tadvance nearer than a dozen feet.
"Don't you know that wild animals are afraid of fire? That is whatrestrains them."
"Of course! I didn't think of that. How fortunate that we gatheredenough wood to last!"
"Just look at Shasta! He doesn't even stop smoking!"
"He must know there is no danger."
"Let us try our guns upon them!"
The proposal pleased both, especially as there was no fear but what theycould make every discharge tell. Each of them singled out two of thelargest wolverines, and fired their guns at the same instant. Anear-splitting clamor succeeded, and as the brutes scampered away in thedarkness two of their number were seen stretched out, quivering anddying.
The wolverine is an animal found in California which unites thecharacteristics of the bear, weasel, fox and wolf. It is sullen andferocious, and one of the most troublesome of the wood-denizens. Whenfirst seen it is apt to be mistaken for a small bear, or ratherheavy-looking wolf. The sensuous neck and head bespeak the wolf andweasel nature, the sly persistency the fox, and the savage stubbornnessthat of the bear; while a resemblance to all four can be seen in thegeneral contour, appearance and habits of the animal.
Attracted, no doubt, by the smell of the cooking fish, a number of thesebrutes had slyly gathered and crept to the camp, where, finding theirprey protected by the fire, they proclaimed their furious disappointmentby loud howls--half bark and half yell--springing hither and thitheramong each other, sometimes vaulting over each other's backs, anddarting as close to the bristling dog as their mortal dread of the firewould permit.
Terror stood on the outskirts of the camp, occasionally moving forwardtoward the animals, as if to match his long white teeth and massivestrength against their glittering fangs and treacherous ferocity.
When the two guns were discharged the rest disappeared as if a bombshellhad exploded in their midst; but scarcely a dozed seconds elapsed erethey closed together again, fiercer and more clamorous, if possible,than before.
In a few moments the boys had their guns reloaded, and they immediatelyrepeated their former proceeding with precisely the same result. At thispoint a surprising occurrence came to pass. The dead wolverines werepounced upon by their survivors and torn instantly to shreds, and evendevoured with as much avidity as if they were Terror and his humancompanions.
"Did you ever hear of such a thing?" asked Elwood, watching them ingreat amazement.
"Yes; I have read of wolves doing the same, even when one of theirnumber was not killed but only wounded slightly."
"Any animals that act in that manner deserve death; so let's send a fewmore rifle-balls among them."
"If we keep this up for a few hours I don't see that there will be anyleft, and we may rest in peace."
"They will keep on gathering until there are twice that number. If itwasn't for our fire we should have to take to the trees; and what, then,would become of poor Terror?"
"He will get into trouble as it is," said Howard, "if we don't keep aneye on him."
The dog had continued advancing closer to the wolverines, until therewas an imminent probability of a collision occurring between him and twoof the largest, that sprung forward until they were within a few inchesof him, when they darted back again to repeat the feint, seemingly withthe purpose of drawing the Newfoundland further toward their clutches.
Howard spoke sharply to Terror, but he paid no heed to the call. The boyrepeated it with the same uselessness, and he was beginning to becomeseriously alarmed for his fate when Shasta laid down his pipe and roseto his feet. The eyes of the three were now centered upon him.
The Pah Utah left his gun and blanket upon the ground, so that his armsand breast, excepting a few ornaments, were bare. He then drew his keenhunting-knife and held it rigidly grasped in his right hand. Stoopingdown, he caught a blazing brand with his left, swung it rapidly over hishead a few times to give it additional blaze, and then darted away likea meteor directly among the wolverines. The latter scattered in greaterterror than ever, but the Indian, instead of returning, actuallyfollowed them.
The brand could only be seen flitting among the trees, its flaming glaregiving a wild, unearthly appearance to the face and breast of the Savageas he sped swiftly in and out among the trunks and vegetation, like anavenger bent on destroying the entire band.
One of the largest wolverines, in his wild fear, sprung so close toElwood that his tail whisked against him. Ere he could clear himself theIndian burst upon him, his iron arm flashed out with lightning-likeswiftness, the wire-like fingers caught the brute by the neck, and theknife was buried so deep in his throat that when he was thrown back hefell limp and dead to the ground. After which Shasta sat down upon theground again, folded his blanket over his shoulders and appeared muchoccupied in contemplating the burning sticks before him.
"Mr. Shasta, that was well done!" exclaimed Tim in admiration. "I verymuch doubt whether it could be excelled by your humble servant, theundersigned."
"I very much doubt it also," said Elwood. "I shouldn't fancy chasingthose animals with a firebrand."
"No; if you should drop it or fall down unpleasant consequences mightfollow."
The boys kept up their loading and firing among the wolverines untilthey had slain over a dozen. But instead of diminishing, the numbercontinued to increase till there must have been nearly two-scoregrowling, snapping and snarling around the camp-fire.