A pack of wild beasts rushed toward the house. Two of them fell.

Somewhere inside the dwelling Petro was killed, but there was

neither shot nor cry.

They found the old peasant kneeling beside the doorway.

"I said, 'take Alphonse!' oh, God," she moaned, "but," she shrieked

with fierce satisfaction as her enemies appeared, "because Petro

could aim better with his gun!"

Three graves on the right of the cottage held the peasants, but

three graves on the left held their toll.

THE END

THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS

GARDEN CITY, N. Y.

Short stories from Life: The 81 prize stories in "Life's" Shortest Story Contest · 第 16 / 16 段