The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-05-07

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thick smoke of the mouldering swamp. The
atmosphere, which for a long time had been
now became absolutely su1oca-
ting. The noise was Internal. Cracking |
reeds Kissing damp bushes, flaming grass, u |
black vapor that choked and backened, was
all that they could distinguish, with sense
OF intense heat, and then black plain COW
cred with charrcd wood, with smouldering
heaps Of charcoal, lay before them. They
had passed with the least possible amount of
injury. A few burns, scorching sense of
thirst, faces as black as negroes were all that
had ensucd from their desperate and daring
act. Snow pressed the hand of Mary in ST.
lence, and he examined the horses. They
were irrcparablv lost. Their legs had suf-
fcred burns which would render much far
ther journcying imrossiblei but they were
compelled, despite their frightful state, to
urge them on again at their fullest speed.
A howl, that Snow knew too well, warned
him of new danger. The savage wolves
Of the mountains were upon them in vast
droves. These animals follow prairie fires
in search of carcasses Of deer, turkeys, rab-
bits, ha.cs, &c, that perish in the flames :;
and collected in such force, become formida-
BILE. The wretched horses inslinctiyelv
dartcd away, and the fugitive band made for
the wood about five miles off, which had been
spared by the fire, the grass near the trees
being too damp and 100 short to burn. As
they rode, they loosened rifles and pistols,
and took their huge powder horns from the
many swathes which had protected them.
Several times they halted and fired at the
furious beasts which, to the number of about
four hundred came on behind them. Their
shots told, and a general halt Showed that
the cdiotu were engaged in devouring their
unlucky companions. At length the wood
was reached and while, by general dis
charge, they for an instant checked the adj
vance of the hungry brutes, Mary climbed
a tree, took up the arms. provisions, and 9th
er traps, and was then followed by the wca-
ry men. The horses galloped away and be-
came instantly prey 10 the savage white
wolves.
1t required an hour of absolute repose tc
enable the fugitives to talk over their posi-.
ton. They then ate and drank, and smok ed
in silence for another half hour whcr al
we're sufficiently recovered to hold council
The wolves were bowling around the tree
which was lofty and thick, and seemed de
termined not to abandon their prey. Blu
the back wood trio laughed at them. Thei
chief concern was the loss of thcir poo
horses, and the prospect of tramp home
They were now pretty secure from the In
dians who must believe them TO have per
ished in the flames, and who would choos
road removed from the tract of the conna
grafton.
They spoke some time in low tone, un
til the bowling of the wolves became intol
cradle and Capt Snow and young Rock re
solved TO rid themselves of the nuisance
They descended to the lowest branches o
the tree, and looked down. a fearful vel
from hundred throats greeted them anC
the aspect of the long, hanging tongues
fierce eyes, and savage teeth of so many an
imals would have terrified any but men in
ured TO dangers and hardships quick
yolley from their revolving five barrcllet
pistols drove the .ackas back in an instan
Snow was perched over large pile of leaves
driven together by the wind. On this h,
iapidly empted good handful Of powder
With handful of Spanish moss from tn,
trees, and the lighted tobacco from his pipe
II flame was produced, and the burning mos.
dropped as the wolves returned to the charge
The animals retreated with terrific yells a.
the leaves took FIRE, and the gunpowdei
flashed, and they kept at respectful dis
tance. Young Rock now leaped down. flung
some wood on the fire, and joined by his par
ty, soon had fiery rampant round the tree
Within this they rested, and dressed their
wounds, or rather burns.
The next day, after sixteen hours repose,
the whole party started on foot. The wolves,
which only collect in dangerous numbers on
rare occasions, had dispersed over the black
and smoky plain. Weary and tresome was
the journey through forest, through swamp,
along dreary intermnable plains, with Il
heavy rifle on the shoulders They rarely
fred shot, eating sparingly, and at long in
tervals, for the crack of FIRE arms had now
become dangerous. Ten days they tramped
along, and on the morning of the eleventh
/ they were within mile of the dwelling of
( Capt. Snow. Two or three smart reports of
guns made them prick up their ears, quick
/ ly followed as they were by the duller report
of Indian fusils. The trio plunged into the
ihlckct, loosened their rifles, aud advanced.
Ten minutes brought them TO the skirt of the
wood. The buildings of Snowyile were a
little more than hundred yards distant.
The Indians lay about fifty yards TO their
left, behind the wagon aud rorn-stack frame.
Quick as thought Snow ana his companions
fired, and then, with a loud yell, rushed a
cross. Taken in flank, the savages, sought
the cover of the wood, and made an effort to
prevent the junction of the whites. Snow
found that his house had been blockadcd TWO
days by the Indians, but that his assistant
and the four negro slaves had made very
spirited defence. Mary was alarmed about
her parents; but during the day any move