Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-05-13

III
several horses and few Struggling cattle wer,
mustered The forest was strewed with torn car
cases OF cattle and horses mostly killed by the fall
ing timber, and partly devoured by the Iavenou
wolves few hundred yardS'from the tree where
the drover lay was found few fragments of clothes
the knife and rifle and half eaten body of one o.
the soldiers He had fought with the desperation
OF mad man, and the d.'andc crippled wolves lay
as trophies around the bold soldier. In hollow near
Inc found horse and aman partly eaten up
and cattle that had apparently been holly pur
sued and torn to death by the rapacious BEASTS
They started out in search of the spot from whence
the drover had heard the firing in the night. They
soon discovered the place; at the foot of large dead
sycamore stump, some twelve feet high, lay the
carcaseS OF dozen or twenty wolves Each wolf
had his scalp neatly taken Off and his head elabor-
atciy bored by the rifle ball. An Indian ladder that
Is scruhby saplin, trimmed, with footholds left on
1t, was laying against the old tree, at the top of
winch was sort OF rude scaffold. contrived evil
IDENTIFY by hunter. AT distance in hollow.
was seen great proflsion of wolf skulls and bones,
but no sign Ola human being could there be traced.
Ihe party made fire, and as beef lay plenty a
round, they RECALLED themselves heartily after their
night of horror and disaster. Having finished their
repast they separated each taking different courses
10 hunt and drive up such of the stray cattle as
could be found. My father, whom have desirna-
ted as the drover. pursued his way over the vast
piles OF fallen, tangled timber. eapnr from one tree
10 the other. As he was about 10 throw himself
over the trunk of mighty PROSTATE oak. he found
himself within two feet of one of the most ferocous
wolves that ever expanded its broad Jaws and dis
prayed It's ierce tushes to the eve Of man. Both
parties were taken so suddenly by SURPRISE by this
collision, that they seemed 10 be rooted TO the SPOT
without power TO move. have heard of serpens
charming birds, said the drover, but never believ-
ed In the theory until found myself fairly maone-
tlzed by this great she wolf. The wolf stood and
snaried with its golden fiery eye bent upon the dro
yer, who never moved his steady gaze from the
VOLTS face
There is not beast in existence that will attack
man IT he keeps his eyes steady upon the animal.
but will cover and sneak Off and so did the wolf.
But no sooner had she turned her head and with
howl started off than blue pill from the drovers
yeager split her skull and brought her career to 4
speedy termination.
JVhoo-cp.
"A shout so peculiar TO the usty lungs Of the
western hunter made the welkin RING auain and as
the astonished drover turned towards the shouter.
he beheld sight that proved quite as formidable
as the wolf he had just slain
w ell done, stranger, your the man for me:
l like you That shot done my heart GOOD. thouub
was about to do the old she DEVILS business for
We, seeing as you war sort o'close CHARTERED with
the varmint."
"lhank you," responded the drover. ADDRESSING
the speaker, tall, gaunt, iron featured weather
beaten inquire, With long grey hair, and rude sort
OF wolf skin clothing. cap and moccasins He held
In his long arms large rifle, a knife in his belt,
and powder horn slung over his side. He seem
ed the very patriarch of the woods. but good hui
mored, and with his rough hlarity soon explained
his presence there.
'Well, stranger" said he, "you have had n
mighty chance OF bad luck yer last night, and
never saw them cursed varmints so crazy aiore"
''Do you live in these parts % inquired the dro
yer.
Ella! ha! yes, yes" replied the hunter. 81
1--we yer, live anywhar's whar wolf can be found
But you don't know me | reckon, stranger %
81 do not" said the drover.
cha ha well. that's quare. mighty quare |
thought thar war'nt man this side OF the Blue
Ridge but what knews me and old Kit here, This
riiie) We'll, seeing you are stranger, I'll just
take that old sarpent's top knot off, and have
talk with We.
With this Introductory Of matters, the hunter in
the wolf skins scalped the woif and tuckinp the
scalp In his belt, motioned the drovcr TO follow
lie led the way in deep silence some half mile to
a small stream, down which they proceeded for
some distance, until they came to a low and rutlev
constructed cabin Here the hunter requested the
drover TO take seat log in front of the cabin.
while he entered through small aperture in his
''''-H'
dried meat. These daiDties being discussed. old
Nimrod the meantime kept chuckling TO himself.
and mumblIng over the idea that there should be a
white man or Ingin this side the Blue Ridge that
didn't know him
''l1a hal well, well, | swar, il is curious.
stranger, that you don't know me- ME that can
show more ingn skelps than any white man that
ever trod these wal paths ME, who kin shoot
more wolves and fetch in more of the yarrnints,
skelps in one night than any white man or Inrin
that ever trod this wilderness But Pm rittin old.
very old, forgotten, and here comes a white man
clean and straight from the settlements and he don't
know me. ] swar I've lived 20 be clean ashamed
o'mysef." And with this solioquy. half to him
sell and partly addressed 10 the drover, the old
hunter seemed almost fit to cry at his imaginary in
significance and dotage.
But. friend" said the drover Gas YOU have not
yet Informed me by what name may call vou-''
"Call me, stranger? why am''-and here his
eyes gared as he threw himself into heroic atti-
Chris Green, old Chris Green the wolf
slayer But, God bless We, stranger, 'praps YOU'RE
from ,tother side the Ridge and don't know old
Chriss history"
That frankly admit" replied the drover.
"NeI, GOD bless We, | love my fellow white
men yes 40 though live yer by myself, and
dom 10 the settlements, and live on what old Kit
thar provides me-
wei, stranger, my history is mighty mourn
tn! one but as yer unlucIy like myself and plenty
OF business to Tend to fore night; III make my
troubles short to We
-, wen you see abort thirty years ago. left the
Blue Ridge with party of my negbbors to come
down yer IN the Sciota country, TO see it, and lay
pans 70 Drive the cussed red skins clean out Of IT,
We'll. the red skins appeared rather quiet what
few VIC fell in with. and monstrous civil. Bnt
cuss the sarpns, there's no more dependence to be
put IN EN- than the calankcrous wolves. and roast
em, always sets old Kit talkin dutch to them