Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-12-06
From the Legends of New England.
A Night among the Wolves.
BY JOHN ]. wHITrIER.


AND most offensive howl did ask for food,
Twas night Of January, IL. We
had been to q fine quitting frolic, about two
miles from our settlement Of four or Ave
log houses. Twas rather late-about u
o'clock, should guess---when the nar,v
broke up. There was no moon--and .
dull, grey shadow of haze hung around the
horizon, while overhead a few pale and
sickiy looking stars gave us their duh LIGHT
as they shone throughaa dingy CURTAIN
There were my two sisters and Harry's
sister and his sweetheart, the daughter Of
our next door neighbor. She was down.
right handsome girl-Athat Caroline Allen.
never saw her equal though I am no
stranger TO pretty faces. She was so pleas
ant and kind Of heart so gentle and sweet
spoken, and so intelligent besides that eyerv
body loved her. She had an eve as blue
as the hill violet, and het lips were like a
red rose leaf in June. No wonder then
that Harry Mason loved her-boy tho, he
was-tor, we had neither Of us seen our
seventeenth summer.
Our path lay through thick forest of
oak, with here and there tall pine rising
its dark full shadow against the sky, with
an outline rendered indistinct by the dark
ness. The snow was deep; deeper a great
deal than it ever falls Of late years; but the
surface was frozen strongly to bear our
weight, and we hurried on over the bright
pathway with rapid steps. We had not
proceeded far, before long low howl came
to our ears. We all knew it in a moment;
and | could feel shlrlder thrilling the
arms that were close TO my own, and a
sudden cry burst from the lips of all Of us
1.-THE wolves! the wolves!''
Did you ever see wild wolf-not one
OF your Gagged, broken down, show animals.
which are, exhibited for sixpence sight.
and children half price; but fierce half
starved ranger of the wintry forest, howl
ing and hurrying over the barren snow,
actually mad with hunger?7 There is no
one OF Gods creatures which has got such
a, frightiul fiendish look as this animal. 1t
has the form as, well as the spirit of de-
mon. 9E21tWe. H.f tf'0si 1fs a .tfH
{ Another, and another howl; and then
we could hear distinctly the qnick pa.ter
OF feet behind us. We oil turned right
about and looked in the direction of the
sound. The devils are after us, said Ma
son, pointing to a line Of dark gliding bo-
dies. And SO in fact they were-a whole
troop of thcm--howling like so many In
dams In pow, wow. We had no weap-
ons of any kind; and we knew enough of
The nature Of the vile creatures who fol-
lowed US 10 know thatlit would be use /
less TO contend with them. There was
not a moment to lose; the savage beasts
were close upon u.s.. To attempt flight
would have been a hopeless affair. There
was but one chance of escape and we in
stantly seized upon it.
"To the tree; let US climb this tree?,
| cried, springing forward towards a low
boughed and gnarled oak; which saw at
glance might be easily climed into.
Harry Mason sprang lightly into the
tree and aided in placing the terrified girls
IN place Of comparative security among
the thick boughs. | was the last on the
ground, and the whole troop were yelling
at my heels before | reachcdthe rest of the
company. There was one moment of hard ,
breathing and wild explanations among us, !
and then feeling Of calm lhanktulness for
our escape. The night was cold and we
soon began to. shake, like 50 many sailors ,
On the top mast of an Iceland whaler,-
But there was no murmurs-no complains
ng among us, for we could distinctly see
he. gaunt, attenuated bodies Of the wolves
beneath as, and every now and then we :
'ould see great, glowing eyes, staring up j
n the trees where we were seated. And '
hen their yells--they were loud and long b
md devilish. IS 81 gs4 - 1
know not how long we had remained S
II this situation, fer we had no means Of
scertaining the time--when heard a d
lmb of the tree cracking as if breaking Y
own beneath the weight Of some Of US; n
nd moment afterwards shrek went h
through my ears like the piercing of knife. h
light form went down through the ma
ed branches, and fell with a dull and Il
eavy sound upon the stiff snow. 6
"Oh, God! am gone!'' s M 9
1t was the voice Of Caroline Allen, II
he poor girl never spoke again! There "
Pas horrid dizziness and confusion in 6
~ brain, and spoke not; and stirred a
OF, Tor the whole at that time was like an $;
gly, unreal dream. only remembered al
nat there were cries and shudderinps il
round me, perhaps i joined them-and g
lere were smothered groars and dreadful al
owls underneath! Il was all over in lo
loment. Poor Caroline! She was liter b
lily eaten alive. The wolves had fright
llfeast, and they became raving mad with
re taste of blood. reH safa. sill s@l ?
When came fully to myself-when the !,
uly horrible dream went of; and it last p
but nioment-I struggled-sor shake off !,
le arms OF my sisters, which were cling i,
g around me- and could have clearsdl \
yself, Ishouid have jumped down amonsa ],
he raving animals. But when second y
fought, came over me, knew that any i,
tempt TO rescue would be useless. Al -
+ POOR Mason, he was wild with horror.J y
10 had tried to follow Caroline when she !. !,
'el, but he could not shake OF the CRASH ). !.
his terrified sister. His youth. and :.
'eak constitution and frame, were unable = :.
} Withstand the dreadful trial; and he : :
God close BY my side, with his hands :,
rmly clenched and his teeth set closely. !, i
azing down on the dark wranelinc crea- z
lres below with the fixed stare of -