Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-01-18

met my ears. | thought il more than NOR
tal-so fierce, and amid such an unbroken
solitude, it seemed as if fiend had blown
from an internal trumpet.
Presently | heard the twigs on shore
snap, as if from the tread of some animal,
and the blood rushed back to my forehead
with bound that made my skin burn, and
I felt relieved tina, ! had TO contend with
things earthly, and not of spiritual nature
my energies returned, and | looked
around me for some means of escape. The
moon Shone through the opening OF the
mouth of the creek by which had entered
the forest, and considering this the hest
means of escape, dared towards it like
an arrow. 'Twas hard V hundred yards
distant, and the swallow could scarcely eX-
Gel my desperate flight; yet, as / turned
my head to the shore, | could see two dark
objects dashing through the underbrush at
pace nearly double in speed to my own.-
BY this great speed, and the short yeIIS
which they occasionally gave, ] knew at
once that these We're the much dreaded gray
wolf.
had never met with these animals, but
from the description given Of them ] had
but little pleasure IN making their acquain-
tancp. Their untameable fercenesS, and
the untring strength which seems part Of
their nature, render them objects of dread
TO every benighted traveller.
''whh their long gulop. which can tire
The deer houfl's hate and the hunters fire.
they pursue their prey-never straying
from the track Of their victim-and as the
weared hunter thinks he had at last out
stripped them, he finds that they but waited
for the evening to seize their prey, and falls
a prizc to the trelesS animals.
The bushes that skirted the shore flew
past with the velocity of lightning as |
dashed on in my fight TO pass the narrow
opening. The outlet was nearly gained:
one second more and would be compare
lively safe, when my pursuers appeared on
the bank directly above me, which here
rose to the height OF ten feet. There was
no time for thought, SO | bent my head and
dashed madlv forward. The wolves sprang
but mScalculating my speed, sprang behind
while their intended prey glided out upon
the river.
Nature turned me toward home. The
light fakes of snow spun from the iron OF
my skates, and | was some distance from
my purSuers, when their fierce howl told
me | was still their fugitive. I did not
look back did not feel afraid, or sorry,
or glad one thought of home, OF the bright
faces awaiting my return, or their tears II
/ baN thpn
energy of body and mind was eXerted for
escape. was perfectly at home on the
ice. Many We're the DAYS that | spent on
my good skates, never thinking that at one
time they would be my only means OF safe
| ty. Every half minute an alternate yelp
from my fierce attendants made me but too
certain that they were in close pursuit.
/ Nearer and nearer they came heard their
feet pattering on the ice nearer still, until |
could feel their breath and hear their snuff
ing scent. Every nerve and muscle in my
frame was stretched to the utmost cXten-
sion.
The trees along the shore seemed 10
dance in the uncertain light, and my brain
turned with my own breahless speed, yet
still they seemed to hiss forth their breath
with a sound truly horrible, when an in
voluntary motion on my part turned me
out of nv course, The wolves close be-
hind unable to stop, and as unable 10 turn
on the smooth ice, slipped and fell, still go
ing on far ahead; their tongues were loll-
ing out, their white tuSks glaring from theiI
bloody mouths; their dark, shaggy breasts
> ,,,.,,., N,,c,I ,,.,,b f,or, and tbpy paSgar
me their eyes glared, and they howled witt
fury. The thought dashed on my mine
that by this means | could avoid them, VII
by turning aside whenever they cam,
; too near; for they, by the formation oltheI
feet, are unable to run on ice except on ;
straight line,
l Immediately acted upon this PLAN
The wolves having regalned their feet
sprang directly towards me. The race wa
renewed for twenty yards up the stream
they were already close to my back, whel
gIided round and dashed directly past m.
I pugSuers. A fierce yell greeted my evolu
tions, and the wolves, slipping upon thel
S launches sailed onward, presenting a pei
d feet picture of helpeSsness and battlcd rage
= nus gained n"dEly uunulVu DdlHn "
n each turning. This was repeated two Q
d three times every moment the animals gel
g ting more excited and batiled
At one time, by delaying my turning to
y long, my fierce antagonist came so nea
g that they threw the white foam over m
dress, as they sprang 10 seize me, and the
o teeth clashed together like the spring of
n fox trap. Had my skates failed for one il
n slant, had tripped on a stick, or caugl
81 my foot in fssure in the ice, the story
l. am now telling would never have been toll
= / thought all the chances over; | kne
I'd where they would first take hold of me if
N fell; thought how long it would be befo
OF ! died, and when there would be scare
IS for the body that would already have
Mt tomb: for, oh how fast mans mind trac
no out all the dread eolors OF deaths pictuT
Ill only those who have been near the gri
n, original can tell.
au Ok THE SLAVERY QUARREL.-