Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-01-08

about my business no more perhaps than Yankees
generally are-and then there was cast of his
features did not like. Besides these he seemed
to eve my saddle bags ina very suspicious manner.
and imagined detected two or three glances of
doubtful meaning exchanged between the man and
woman | am not suspicious in my nature but
hang me if could shake off the impression that
the dangers to be apprehended from the wolves
were less than those which had TO fear from pass
ing a night in that house. There had been mum
Der of flying reports of travellers being made way
with in such solitary places, and this appeared to
me the place of all others for such kind of work.
So bidding good bye to my entertainers, put spurs
to nv horse and was soon out of sight.
Well. sir, logged along at middling brisk pace,
the road being toerably good, thinking more OF the
cabin that had Just left than the road before me.
7 mov have wronged its Inhabitants 1 trust ! did
in allowing myself to indulge in such uniavora-
Bile surmses in regard to them. They might have
been the most worthy couple in the world for aught
know-still | could not get the idea out of my
head that they were no better than they should be
and as INV memory called up the many instances
of lonely travellers being murdered at these stop
ping places Imagination converted this man and
woman into those heartless wretches whose trade
is blood and shuddered at the thought of the fate
that mirht have overtaken me had yielded to their
nportunote request to taTy with them that night
RIGHT Glad was | to be well clear of them
wolves int said I, they on,y tried to excite my
apprehensions to induce ne tLSem with them
Thai st,rv nn,fv do very VITO frighten children
with, but they should have hntched up something
more plausible than that to gull man like me-
By this time had got over the open road and
was entering the woods. The path was hemmed in
on every side by tall trees, spruce pine and hem
lock. with no underground, leaving narrow pas
sage However, a full moon threw its unbroken
light along the path that stretched before me- save
where an overhanging tree obstructed its rays 1t
was still calm night, as have said, and no sound
broke the silence save the monotonous clatter OF
the hoofs of my horse as he went along on an easy
trot. | was settling down in very comfortable
frame of mind. induginc in those fancful reveres
natural to youth, and which the quiet and lonely
scene around me was so calculated to inspire, when
my attention was aroused by faint, distant cry,
coming, as it seemed, from the depth of the forest.
/ listened intenty for few minutes and presently
prolonged howl still faint in the distance, follow
ed. The attention of my horse was evidently at
tracted to 1t, for he prcked up his ears and gave a
| low snort.
Finding, after listening awhile, that the cry was
not repeated, | gave no heed to the circumstance,
presuming it to be some rowing wild creature in the
woods. Presently, however, the cry was repeated,
and an answering cry appeared in another direction,
each Of them apparently nearer than the one that
attracted my attention first My horse now began
to show evident signs of uneasiness pricking up
his ears and tossing his head wildly from side to
side, snoring occasionally and quickening his pacc.
Again came that howl, still more distinct and this
time it repeated in different quarters principal
~ in NV roar TmninC in nv saddle, saw in the