Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-03-07
His violent painting and his dropping head too

q l could now hear the rush Of the ferocious
troop behind 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 Of ira
vellers similarly situated, and Of the vain efforts
they had made to avert their terrible fate. ]
tried to disengage my saddle bags, in the hope
that they might for moment check pursuit by
divertng the attention of the wolves, but was
unable to do so. I threw my cap in the road
for the same purpose, but an angry growl almost
at the heels of my horse told that it had avail
cd nothing. .rfs y. sst iia5 aaI
now behought me Of my pistols. Hastily
cooking one turned and deliberately fired at
a 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.
iect and the neares, animal dropped in the rond
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 outdo the other
had prepared my other pistol and waited to
be sure of my shot. With calmness can
hardly account for, selected the foremost pur-
suer and gave him the contents of the second
pistol. This time. unfortunately, was not so
successful only wounded him, and saw the
animal lmping off into the woods. beset with
three or four Of the troop, while the remainder
ra mo on in bni bo 10 ma,
thought then my moments were numbered,
for although we were then nearly out of the
woods, could feel the poor beast reel and stag.
ger under me, and every moment was dread
ing his fall, in which case knew that my fate
would be sealed. A cold, clammy sweat stole
over me. and prayer invountarly rose to my
lips--for Omnipotence alone felt could save
me. .t
In the hour OF danger, with dreadful death
staring him in the face, man instinctively turns
to his Maker .or relief He even who denies
the existence OF a God, when brought to the
fearful verge of life, involuntarlly acknowledge
es his error--the last struggle wrngs cry for
mercy from his lips!
prayed, sir-not for rescue from the devou.
near prospect of death l asked forgiveness
| With ightninglike rapldity my thoughts sped
! through the past-every incident of my mind,
the evil done and the good Jeff undone. Busy
in these reflections forgot the pers which sur.
! rounded NE, and was only called to sense ot
my situation by sharp growl at my side. Tur.
ming my head observed an unusually large volt
swapping at my legs, while others were eaping
at the launches ofmy horse.
! well knew that wolves preferred the flesh Of
man 10 that of any other animal, and finding
myself in this extremity; every hope'of escape be-
ing cut off-ieelipg moreover an affection for the
beast betrode, for he was an old family favour
ite, was on the point of sPr'ngpg among The
pack, trusting that while engaged in devourine
me the poor horse would get out of harms way
Believing, too, that my case was entirely hope
less, made up my mind it would be as well t.
meet my fate at once. ']n'.e
grew desperately calm. l even calculated
the probable time should live after the first at
tack--how long sensation would continue in NJ,
mangled limbs. In 'act kind delerum seizet
upon me-my mind wandered strangely, ant
have faint recollection Of looking back upor
the hungry pack and giving u',erance to a Ion!
Ila ha ha pa wild laugh of derIsIon. Thu
was but for moments duration, however. A
the end of that brief period, a sudden though
struck me-a faint hope dawned upon me.
A grocer in the village 10 which was boun,
had commissioned me To purchase couple o
pounds of Scotch snufi-tske pinch, sir -
which had done up in Sundle, in my saddl,
bags. With treubllag hands took out th,
bunde--tore open the parcel and grasping I
handful of the subtle powder, dashed it int
tho face Of the ferocious animal at my side
Without stopping to witness tho effect o'it
turned and threw cloud Of il, by sort 0
scattering fire, into the gaping mouths and gla
ring eyes OF those in my rear! Sir, the eiiec
was beyond my hopes-it was decisive. Yol
should have heard the unearihy howls that a
rose, as blinded and maddened with pain, th,
pack rushed upon one another, swapping and bi
ting each other in their rage! It was . sigh
to behold There they were rolling over il
their fury. regular wolf fight, all too much en-
gagged in battle TO heed me. Well, sir, 1 KEEP
along piece, and then drew up my horse, VIII
could barely stand upright, He was completed!
blown, and seeing that all Danger was over,
} dis@ounted apd lee the panting animal by tn,
bride, soothing himby the way, for the fesrfn