American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-02-18
SN UF F.;
or, TIE LAST PINCH OF TIE GAME
By CHARLES p. ILsLEY.
iCOnCluded. !

BIZ CHARLES P. ILsLEY.
IConcuded.l
AS those unearthy yels swellod on the night
air and echoed through the forest, my poor
beast shook in every hn6, and cold shudder
passed through my frame. put spur TO my
horse, which bounded forward at the utmost
streich Of his speed. Casting a hurried glance
behind, the whole road seemed to be filled with
the troop Of demons, whose ferocous how Ia
swelled louder and fuller every moment To
my dsmay the distance between US was con-
nderably lessened. What would ! not have
given AZ his moment 10 have been safely back
in the cabin again! Veny did deplore my
folly in not giving heed to the warnings ! had
received. Az yell after yell pealed upon my
ears, every moment drawing nearer and nearer,
horror tor a while oVerpowered me, and did
nothing bot plunge the spurs into the painting
sides OF my horse, madly shouting to urge him
forward. The poor animal, nearly knocked up
by long days journey, dashed on at the top
of bis speed, hinglng the iroth from his mouth,
while neck and TANKS were faxed with foam;
and even at The tremendous rate he was going,
al every fresh yell Of the fends | could feel
I him tremble in every limb
'Ah, sir, that was an agonizing moment TO
me-! Collecting my senses, | calculated the
distance before ME, and the possibility of out
miles before me, and if my faded horse could
but hold oul-but that | felt would be imppss-
bic. His violon! painting and his dropping
head too plainly tod that he was nearly used
up.
| conld now hear tlo rush Of the iorocious
troop Oehind me, and at times imagined |
could feel their foul hot breath around me-
what narrowing thoughts flashed through my
brain! | recalled the many instances | had
read oil travellers smltriy situated, and OF the
vain efforts they had made 10 avert their ter
rbe fate | tried TO disenga4e my saddle bat -,
in The hoPe that they might iOT a moment che, k
pursuit by dIVefiing the attention Of lhe
wolves, bul was unable to do so. threw nv
cap ia the road for the same purpose, but an
angry grOwl almost at the heels Of my horse
told that il had awaited nothing.
now bethvught me Of my pistols. Hastily
cooking one turned and deliberately fred at
large black wolf which WAS within few feet
of me. kept my eyes in the direction after
the discharge. Thank God, the shot took eff
feet and the nearest animal dropped in the
road. In moment the whole pack was upon
'him-the entire path behind me seemed piled
, with a stack OF wolves, each one striving with
more eagerness to Guido the other.
had prepared my other pistol and waited
TO be sure Of my shot. With a calmness can
hardly account for, selected the foremost pur-
suer, and gave him the contents Of the second
pistol. THIS time, unfortunately, was not 40
successful; only wounded him, and saw the
animal imping off into the woods, beset with
three or four of the troop, while the remainder
came on in hot haste after me.
thought then my moments were numbered,
for although we were then nearly out of the
woods could feel the poor beast reel and stay
,uao a end
ing his fall, in which case knew that my iate
would be sealed. A cold, clammy sweat stole
over me, and d prayer nvoluntariIy rose to my
lips---ior Omnipotence alone felt could save
me.
In the hour of danger, with dreadful death
staring him in the face, man lnstlnctively turns
to his Maker for Teet. He even who denies
the existence of Il God, when brough. TO the
fearful verge Of life, lnvoluntarlly nowledg-
es his error-the last struggle wrngs cry for
mercy from his lips!
prayed, sir--nut for rescue from the devou-
ring bPas that did not look ior-bul in tho
near prospect Of death asked forgiveness.
With lightning like rapidly my thoughts sped
through the past-eVeTy incident OF my mind
the EVIL done and the good left undone. Busy
in these reflections forgot the pers which
surrounded me, and was only called to 2 sense
OF my situation by sharp growl al my side.
. Turning my head observed an unusually large
wolf swapping at my legs, while others were
leaping at The hauncb' my horse.
| well knew that wolves preferred the flesh
of man to that 0f ANY other animal, ami fading
myself Ia tins exlreHltV--eVe hope Of escape
being cut off feeling moreover an affection Tor
the beast besirode, for ne was old family
fasor,e, was on the point OF springmg among
the pack, trusting thai while engaged III de-
vouring me the poor horse would gel out of
harms way. Believ ny, too, that my case was
entirely hopeless made up my mind II would
be as well To meet my fate a. once,
lgrew desperately calm. even calculated
the probable time should live after the first
attack-huw long sensation would continue IN
my Insngled linhs. In fact kind os dellr,um
sezed upon sne--my mind wandered strangely,
and have faint recollection Ui looking hack
upon The hungry pack and giving niterance TO
long Via! ha. ha!''-a wild laugh Of deris,on.
This was but for moments duration, howev"
er. A, tho end of tina, brief period, sudden
thought struck ne-a faint hope dawned upon
me.
A grocer in the village 10 which was bound
had commissioned inc 10 purchase Il c0upe ot
pounds OF Scotch snnii--iake Pinch, SUI
which had dome up IN bundle III Inv saddle
bsgs. With trembling hands iuuk out the
bandle-iore open the parcel, and graspiny a
handful of the subtle powder, / dashed It ln,u
the face of the ie ocous animal at INV side.
Without stopping o witness the fleet of II, |
turned aud threw = cloud OF it, by sor, vi