Short Stories » On Wolf Mountain

On Wolf Mountain - Page 5 of 7

When he reached the camp and reported these signs to his people, they received the news with satisfaction.

"The paleface," said they, "has no rights in this region. It is against our interest to allow him to come here, and our brother of the wandering foot well knows it for a men- ace to his race. He has declared war upon the sheepman, and it is good. Let us sing war-songs for the success of our brother!" The Sioux immediately despatched runners to learn the exact state of affairs upon Hank Simmons's ranch.

In the mean time the ruined sheepman had made his way to the nearest army post, which stood upon a level plateau in front of Hog's Back Mountain.

"Hello, Hank, what's the matter now?" quoth the sutler. ' You look uncommonly serious this morning. Arc the Injuns on your trail again”?

"No, but it's worse this time. The gray wolves of the Big Horn Mountains attacked my place last night and pretty near wiped us out! Every sheep is dead. They even carried off Jake Hansen's boot, and he came within one of being eaten alive. We used up every cartridge in our belts, and the bloody brutes never noticed them no more than if they were pebbles! I'm afraid the post can't help me this time," he concluded, with a deep sigh.

"Oh, the devil! You don't mean it," exclaimed the other. ' Well, I told you before to take out all the strychnine you could get hold of. We have got to rid the country of the Injuns and gray wolves before civilization will stick in this region!"

Manitoo had lost one of his brothers in the great fight, and another was badly hurt. When the war-party broke up, Manitoo lingered behind to look for his wounded brother. For the first day or two he would occasionally meet one of his relations, but as the clan started southeast towards Wolf Mountain, he was left far behind.

When he had found his brother lying helpless a little way from the last gathering of the wolf people, he licked much of the blood from his coat and urged him to rise and seek a safer place. The wounded gray with difficulty got upon his feet and followed at some distance, so that in case of danger the other could give the signal in time.

Manitoo ran nimbly along the side gulches until he found a small cave. ' Here you may stay. I will go hunting," he said, as plain as signs can speak.

It was not difficult to find meat, and a part of Hank's mutton was brought to the cave. In the morning Manitoo got up early and stretched himself. His brother did not offer to move. At last he made a feeble motion with his head, opened his eyes and looked directly at him for a moment, then closed them for the last time. A tremor passed through the body of the warrior gray, and he was still. Manitoo touched his nose gently, but there was no breath there. It was time for him to go.

When he came out of the death-cave on Plum Creek, Manitoo struck out at once for the Wolf Mountain region. His instinct told him to seek a refuge as far as possible from the place of death. As he made his way over the divide he saw no recent sign of man or of his own kinsfolk. Nevertheless, he had lingered too long for safety. The soldiers at the post had come to the aid of the sheepman, and they were hot on his trail. Perhaps his senses were less alert than usual that morning, for when he discovered the truth it was almost too late.

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On Wolf Mountain - Takeaway for Class 1,2,3

Always listen to your parents and be cautious in unfamiliar places.

On Wolf Mountain - Takeaway for Class 4,5,6

Sometimes courage and resourcefulness can help us overcome our fears and find unexpected solutions to challenging situations.

On Wolf Mountain - Takeaway for Class 7,8,9

Bravery and kindness can lead to unexpected friendships, even in the most dangerous situations.

3 Fun Facts

• Tong and Lim, the two main characters, set out on an adventure to explore the mysterious Wolf Mountain.
• The villagers believed that a giant wolf guarded the mountain, protecting the hidden treasures inside.
• During the adventure, Tong and Lim discovered a secret cave filled with beautiful crystals and a friendly wolf cub who guided them.

Quiz for Class 1,2,3

• What animal did the children see while they were on their hike up the mountain?
• How did the children feel when they heard the howling sound?
• What did the children do to help each other when they were feeling scared on the mountain?

Quiz for Class 4,5,6

• What unique feature did the mountain mentioned in the story have that amazed the children?
• How did the children plan to protect themselves while they explored the mountain at night?
• Who did the children meet on their adventure on the mountain, and how did they help them?

Quiz for Class 7,8,9

• What was the main challenge that the characters faced while climbing Wolf Mountain?
• How did the characters feel when they reached the summit of Wolf Mountain, and what did they notice about their surroundings?
• Describe one way in which the climb up Wolf Mountain changed the relationship between the characters.