State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-01-19

"To the tree; let us climb this
treeh l cried springnig towards
low boughed and gnarled oak,
which I saw at first glance might be
easily climbed into,
( Harry Mason sprang lightly into
the tree and aided in placing the
terrified girls in a place Of compar-
alive security among the thick
boughs. ! was the last on the
ground, and the whole troop were
yelling at my heels before reached
the rest of the company. There was
one moment of hard breathing and
wild exclamation among us, and
then feeling Of calm thankiulness
for our escape. The night was cold
and we soon began to SILVER and
shake, like so many, sailors on the
top mast of an Iceland whaler. But
there were no murmurs-no com
planning among us, for we could
distinctly see the gaunt, attenuated
bodies of the wolves beneath US,
and every now and then we could
see great, glowing eyes staring up in
the tree where we were seated.
And then their yells-they were loud
and long and devilisb.
81 know not how long we had
remained in this situation, for we
had no means of ascertaining the
time-when | heard limb of the
tree cracking as if breaking down
beneath the weight Of some of us;
and moment after shrek went
through my ears like the piercing of
a knife, A light form went down
through the naked branches, and
fell with a dull and heavy sound
upon the stiff snow.
"Oh, God! | am gone !"
TWAS the voice of Caroline Allen.
The poor girl never spoke again |!
There was a horrid dizziness and
confusion in my brain, and I spoke
not-and | stirred not for the whole
was at that time like an ugly unreal
dream. only remembered that
there were cries and shudderings
around me ! perhaps joined them
and that there were smothered
groans and dreadful bowls under
meath 1t was all over in moment.
Poor Caroline She was literally
eaten alive. The wolves had a
frightful feast, and they become ra-
wing mad with the taste of blood.
"When came fully to myself
when the horrible dream went Off
and it lasted but amoment-I strug-
gled to shake off the arms ofmy sis
tiers, which were clinging around
me, and could have cleared myself
| should have jumped down among
the raging animals. But when a
second thought came over me, !
knew that any attempt to rescue
would be usless. As for poor Ma
son, he was wild with horror. He
had tried to follow Caroline when
she fell. but he could not shake off
the grasp of his terrified sister. His
youth, and weak constitution and
frame, were unable TO withstand the
dreadful trial, and he stood close
by my side, with his hands firmly
clenched and his teeth closely set,
gazing down upon the dark wrang-
ling creatures below with the fixed
stare Of maniac. 1t was indeed a
terrible scene. Around was the
thick cold highland below, the
ravenous wild beasts were tapping
their bloody jaws, and bowling for
another victim.
The morning broke at last; and
our frightful enemies fled at the
first advance of daylight, like so
many cowardly murderers. We
waited until the sun had risen be-
fore we ventured to crawl down
from our resting place. We were
chilled through-every limb was
numb with cold and tcrror-and
poor Mason was delirious, and ragged
wildly about the dreadful things he
had witnessed. There were bloody
stains all around the tree; and two
or three long locks of dark hair
were tramPled into the snow.
owe had gone but a little dis
lance when we were met by our
, friends from the settlement, who
had become alarmed at our absence.
They were shocked at our wild and
frightful appearance; and my broth