Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-24

Ns.
10 hnd that the beast whose track they had us,
been following. had apparently, within few
moments, been there, and killed and carried of
sheep. SO daring at act Of depreciation. per.
Pe'mIed too, just at the time, as if in mockery
ol Their eXcrOns, caused them 10 grasp vet
lighter their muskeIs. and hasten their speed
through the snow, which was sill very deep in
the woods. Keeping the track for about mile.
II led them to the margin Of aslream, now swol.
len 10 quite river. Here the wolf seemed 10
nave paused Tor moment, and then, with sin.
gIe spring TO have cleared the brook. This &C.
currence affected the older pcrSons in the com.
Pany' IN manner which the younger could not
understand. Indeed. although a moment before
they were filled wiki enthusiasm, all al once
their courage seemed 10 have "oozed out at the
palms oI their hands," and thew suddenly came
70 'he conclusion TO part from the prosecution Of
The hunt, until the next day. All readily con.
Cured in this decision excerpt young Choate.
The "losI sheep was still fresh in his memory,
ond he determined 10 "bang the criiler," as he
termed II, If he had 10 follow him ill midnight.
10 vain the others urged upon him the folly Of
The enterprise; in vain they denied him single
extra bullet, although his only one was ia his
gun. To bang the crtler" he was determined,
aud leaving his companions 10 return 10 their
homes, he crossed the stream upon a log, and
'ook lhe course Of the truck directly up the
mountain.
( The sun was getting low; the place was solita.
ry: he had but single ball in his gun, aud al.
though his powder horn was we'll filled. he did
not chance To have even charge of "smal
shoE about him, a strange occurrence surely
let he pressed on. AT ore time he was almost
minded TO shoot tempting partridge; at another,
TO bring down chattering grey squirrel, which
stretched out upon a limb. seemed laughing at
his folly, as he sill loiled on. Il is no easy mat.
ter to scale these granite ballemcnls, even when
the earth is disrobed of snow and ice; but now,
every plt-hoe was deceitlully filled; every log
was covered; aud the spreading hemocks aud
lhlck-lopPed hrs coniuined each snowy burden
lIa', at The least touch, came in light featherv
deIuge about the ears, filling neck, ewes. and
mouth, almost to sutiocaion. Bur the crittcr
was before him, and the warm blood of nineteen
summers in hlSveins aud Oh he went, up-up-
up-now iaIlingburied in the snow. now scram.
bling over logs and through undcrbrush, but sill
keeping, like hound. TO the tracks of the wolf.
The sun was fast sinking behind the white hills
of the west, throwing his last feeble rays aslant
the earth as he gained thelop of the mountains;
and passing beside huge log. which, as il Law
upon The ground, reached nearly 10 his breast
he turned To gaze upon the country below. The
combined action Of the wind and sun had re-.
moved the snow and left the place where he
was standing entirely bare. For u few moments
he stood thus, looking down upon the valley
when, turning TO pursue his course, he started
at the sight Of large animal, unlike any he had
ever before seen. apparently enjoying in the
setting sun.acomlorlable nap. The animal lay
with his breast directly towards him, giving him
a fair sight at the creatures heart. To drop
behind The log, and examine the prlming of his
gun-to rise, and resting upon the log, 10 fire
was the work of an instant. The report Of the
old "queen'S arms" was mingled with the scream
of The wounded beast, as he sprung. with Sud
den bound, high in air. Quick as thought,
Choate dropped upon one knee and commenced
reIoading his piece for dear life; while he could
hear the bowling of the enraged ANIMAL as with
fearful bounds he sought around the top OF the
mountain for the instrument of his torture, aud
now daShing against the rocks, and again bound
behind which the trembling young man was en-
gagged. The powder in. catching up handful
of gravel stones. he had just time 10 pour them
into the gun, as the eye Of the maddened beast
caught sight of him. With howl Of rage, he
sprang with unerring aim upon his victim. The
Young man saw him coming-saw his extended
Jaws. and fiery, blood.shot eve-and just us he
felt his breast touch the muZZe Of his gun, and
his hot breath upon his face, he fred The
smoke cleared away, and the monster lay wrlth-
ing in the agonies Of death, Diih the charge Of
grarcl stone lodged in his hedrH Scarcely able
10 credithis senses. and trembling in every limb,
he threw the now lifeleSs beast over his shoul-
ders, and amid the gathering twilight, hastily left
the spot, and took the nearest course for home.
The stars were shining brightly as he emerg-
ed from the dense forest into the road just III
front of MIR. Liule's. the "fore room" of whose
ample house was brilliantly lighted. Lifting the
latch without pausing to knock, he entered and
threw his burden upon the floor in the midst OF
the company. exclaimiug. 81 banged the criuer!
darn me i'll didn'!" Tho ladies screamed, the
boys shouted, and the men locked al each other
IN mute astonshmcnt. Mr.. Little, turning to
The young man, asked him,
Robert, do you know what you killcd!'
"Well, ] can't say as do; but he's tarnal
heavy, that's fact. Sal Jones, don't you think
he's bouncer!"
"WclI, Robert" Mr.. Little replied, "you have
killed the biggest cntamount that | ever saw.
You have acted bravcly; but you little realize
in what dangcryou placed yourself; for had your
aim been less sure, or your gun missed fire, the
enragcd animal would have torn you limb from
mb, in moment. You perhaps thought nc
stingy, and very mean indeed, for denying you
single extra bullet, as did, when saw you
determined to cross the brook and follow the
wolf, as you then thought ito be; but TOO we'll
knew that no wolf, nor any other beast ever in
these woods, except catamount, could take a
leap like that knew also, that the animal
would not stop until he had gained the top oi
| The mountain: and thinking that with YOUR sim