Warsaw High School - Tiger Yearbook (Warsaw, IN)

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Q THE TIGER Blank Wulf 3. ul1'lglhlONG the low-lying hills of Northern Canada was a deep, dark cave cleverly concealed by shaggy bushes and entangling under- growth. This recess was inhabited by an old wolf and her cub- the remnants of a once flourishing family. A hidden trap had cruelly snatched away the head of the family and all the cubs but one had, strictly against their mother 's order, wandered away f '1 f 9 f'Hg'gg??a?!l',f7 and been killed. The fate of the other members of the family had made a lasting impression upon Black Wolf. So, from day to day as his mother roamed about hunting food, he either clung close to her side or lay huddled up in the cave. Toward the end of a beautiful day in the autumn Black Wolf and his mother were hurrying at a brisk walk through the gathering shadows to their home. The long, muscular, grey-black body of the mother showed in distinct lines as she strode along. Her sharp, erect ears--the long, sensitive nose-the keen piercing eyes-the powerful jaws with their gleaming teeth-the great, bushy tail -- sleek, thick coat of fur-and the light, stealthy tread, all revealed her a mighty animal, well versed in the secrets of the forest. While thus hastening along she heard a loud crack and instantly felt a terrible pain as if something were gnawing her front leg. She let out a sharp cry and madly worked to free herself but the agony only increased. Finally she dropped to the ground from exhaustion. Black YVolf walked around her several times watching anxiously and pitifully whining. At last, not knowing what to do, he lay down beside her and fell asleep under her fond caress. In the morning a trapper, one of those dreaded humans was seen approach- ing. lmmediately the mother painfully arose and with Black Vviolf at her side stood ready to fight to the last. The cub with ears erect and rigid body stood fearlessly waiting, watching with gleaming eyes every movement of the man. The hunter stopped, raised a long narrow something to his shoulder that made a sharp report and the helpless mother sank to the ground. In- stinctively realizing that his mother was defenseless, Black Wolf charged the man furiously, snapping a11d biting his buckskins. Admiring the cub 's cour- age the hunter at once wanted him for his own. He threw the dead wolf over his shoulder and picked up the frantically kicking cub by the neck and re- turned to his cabin in the grove. He took Black NVolf inside by the open fire and after a long struggle quieted him. That night as he looked at the sleeping euh he imagined him some day the leader of his priceless dog team. After several years of patient training the trapper had developed the dog nature of Black W'olf so greatly that he seemed to have lost all his wolf-like habits. His devotion to his master was almost human. He was now a power- ful animal, and gracefully formed. He had no match in the dog team and was the acknowledged leader. With 'Black Wolf at the head of his huskies the trapper prided himself in having the speediest and strongest team in the North. It was a beautiful picture to see twelve huskies with one at the head a little larger than the rest drawing a heavily ladened sled at a rapid pace over the brow of a low snowy hill. X

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THE TIGER I5 There came, however, a day when the hunter was called to the States and the two companions had to part. Black Wolf followed l1is master far down the trail but at last the departing figure became lost among the trees and the leader slowly retraced his steps to the cabin. His team mates were devour- ing their meal but he had no heart to eat. When night came he wandered out into the darkness among the trees,-dejected and alone. Suddenly from thc distance a strangely familiar sound reached his ears. What was it? He had never heard that sound, yet it seemed natural. It came a little closer and grew more distinct. Slowly but surely his wild wolf nature, so lo11g held in sub- jection rose to an ungovernable desire to he free. The strange noise became more positive,-it was the howling of a wolf pack! With a leap Black Wolf raced madly down among the trees! On and on he ran until he came to the edge of the woods. Out in a clearing under a full moon stood a large pack of gaunt, hungry wolves yelping like fiends. He walked slowly toward them and the noise ceased. All watched the new-comer and the leader of the pack slowly advanced to inspect him. A new-comer either immediately became sub- ject to the leader or fought him and if he was killed or badly wounded his conqueror was acknowledged leader. The two wolves facing each other were an excellent match-powerful-- Iithe-keen-deterinined. A struggle for supremacy was inevitable. Snarling they closed in a terrible battle. Swaying and rolling-first one, then the other on top they cruelly lacerated each other. Then they separated and circled. each watching for an opening. They closed again but Black Wolf had clev- erly secured a death grip upon his rival's throat. The fray was soon ended and Black Wolf after examining his dead enemy walked slowly to the silent on-lookers. The whole pack stared at him but at last they dropped their heads with a low growl of submission and he was the recognized leader. Black Wolf and his followers wandered far and wide. They were all satis- tied with their leader because he always found food and adventure for them. For several years this prosperity continued and Black Wolf had completely forgotten his old home and master. One night out in a clearing under a full moon stood the wolf pack howling hideously, for they had had no food that day. Suddenly from out the woods came a huge wolf. He walked straight toward Black VVolf who was standing apart from the others. The animals eyed each other a moment. The leader quickly saw he had at last met his match and braced himself for the dreaded but inevitable conflict. The battle was short but decisive. Black NVolf had given way under his younger and more powerful adversary. Severely wounded-an outcast-he limped off into the woods where he remained in hiding until the next night. Being very hungry he wandered from his cave in search of food. He saw a light in the distance among the trees and hurried toward it. Stealthily drawing near he saw a man picking up wood. He crawled a little nearer and crouching, leaped for his throat. But the man instinctively threw up his arm which caught the onset of the wolf. Just as he had raised a stick of wood to hit the animal the light from the window revealed something very familiar in that savage face. Dropping the weapon he exclaimed, Black Wolf! -Phillips D. E. Lelnnan, Jr.