Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/196

 thin air and it was almost dark when he reached the high pole fence surrounding an inclosure in which was a log house. He was about to vault the fence when a confusion of yelps told him that a half-dozen wolfish dogs regarded him as an intruder. Jack realized that these assailants were really in earnest, and hastily climbing one of the uprights, he shouted for help.

A stout German woman appeared in the doorway and, seeing Jack's position, she shouted,—"Gerunter, Franz!" "Franz" was evidently the leader for as he drew back the others followed, and in answer to her invitation Jack approached the house which was occupied by a German family named Kurtz.

"Please give me a drink of water!" Jack said, sinking into a chair almost exhausted.

Mrs. Kurtz brought it and he drank greedily.

"Vat ist name und vo kom'st du?" she inquired in broken English.

Jack related his encounter with the des