The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-03-01
A Skater Chased by Wolves.

winter OF 1914, the relator sailed forth
one evening, to skate on the kenncLec,
in Maine, by moonlight, and, having as
conded that river nearly two miles,
turned into little stream to explore it.
Fir and hemlock of a century's growth
(hr says, met overhead, and formed an
archway radiant with frost work. All
was dark within; but | was young and
fearless, and as | pecred into an intro
ken forest hat reared itself on the Lor-
ders of the stream, laughed with very
joyousnesS; my wild hurrah rang through
The silent woods, and stood listening
to the echo that reycrbcratcd again and
again, until all was hnshed. " 4 Sud
denly sound arosc-it seemed to me
to come from..Ecncath the ice; it sounded
low and trcmuouS at first, until it ended
in one wild yell. | was appalled,.
Never before had such Il noise met my
cars. | thought il more than mortal;
50 fierce, and amidst such an unbroken
solitude, it seemed as though ticnd had
blown a blast from an internal trumpet.
! Presently heard the twigs on shore
crack, as though from the tread of some
brute animal, and the blood rushed back
to my forehead with bound that made
my skin burn, and felt relieved that |
had to contend with things earthly, and
not Of spiritual naturc--my energies
returned, and looked around me for
some means of escape. " Ash turned
my head to the shore, could see two
dark objects dashing through the UNI
drrbrush at IA pace nearly double III
speed to my own. BY this rapldlty,
and the short yclls which they OCCASION
ally gave, knew at once that these
were the much dreaded grey wolf.
had never met with these animals,
but from the description G iNen OF them,
had very little pleasure IN making
their acquaintance. Their untamable
lierccnrs,, and the untirIng strength
which seems part of their nature, render
them object; Of dread to every benightpd
! traveller. There was no time for
thought; SO bent my head, and dashed
madly forward. Nature turned me to-
wards home The light flakes of snow
spun from the iron of my skates, and
was some distance from my | ursuers,
when their fierce howl told me | was
still their fugitive. | did not look back;
did not feel afraid, or sorry, or glad;
one thought Of home, of the bright faces
awaiting my return, of their tears, if
they should never see me again, and
then every energy Of body and mini
was cXcrtcd for escape. | was perfectly
at home on the ice. Many were the
days that had spent on my good skates,
never thinking that, at one time, they
would be my only means of safety. Ev-
cry half minute an alternate yelp from
my fcrocious followers made me only
too certain that they were i'll close pur-
suit. Nearer and nearer they came; |
heard their feet pattering on the ice
nearer still, until could feel their breath
and hear their shifting scent. Every
nerve and muscle in my frame was
stretched to the utmost tension.
The trees along the shore seemed to
dance in the uncertain light, and my
brain turned with my own breathless
speed, yet still they seemed to hiss forth
their breath with a sound truly horrible,
when an involuntary motion on my part
turned me out of my course.-The
wolves, close behind me, unable to stop,
and as unable to turn on the smooth ice,
slipped and fell, still going on far ahead:
their tongues were lolling out, their
white tusks glaring from their bloody
mouths, their dark, shaggy breasts were
hecc2d with foam, and as they passed
me, their eyes gIared, and they howled
with fury. The thought flashed on my
mind that, by this means could avoid
them, viz: by turning aside whenever
they came too near; for they, by The for
nation of their feet, are unable TO run
on ice, except in straight line.
AT one time, by delaying too long, my
sanguinary antagonists came SO near that
they sprang to siezc me, and their teeth
FLASHED together like the spring ola fox
trap. Had my skates failed for one in
slant, had tripped on stick, or caught
my foot in fssure in the ice, the story |
am now telling would never have been
told.
| thought al! the chances over; | knew
where they would first take hold of me,
if | fell; | thought how long it would be
before died, and then there would be
a search for the body that would al
ready have its tomb: for oh! how fast
mans mind traces out all the dread col
"rs Of deaths picture, onl y those who
have been near the grim OH inal can
tell.
But / soon came opposite the house,
and my hounds j knew their deep vol
ces--rouscd by the noise, bayed furious
" from their kennels. heard their
chains rattle; how | wished they would
break them; and then should have pro-
toctors that would be rcers to the fer