The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-06-18
N o.. e IL

"
was perfectly at home upon the tice.a
Many were the days that I spent
upon my good skates, never thinking
at one time they would be my only
means Of safety. Every halff minute
an alternate yelp from my fierce at
tendants made me but too certain
that they were in close pursuit
Nearer and nearer they cs
heard their feet pattering on TIC ice,
nearer still until I could feel their
breath and hear their snuffling scent.
Every nerve and muscle in my frame
was stretched to their utmost tension.
The trees ON the shore seemed TO
dance in tho uncertain light, and my
brain turned with my own breathless
speed, yet still they seemed to hiss
forth their breath with q sound truly
horrible, when an involuntary motion
on my part turned me out Of my
course. The wolves close behind
and unable to stop, and as unable Is
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 fecced with foam, and as they
passed me their eyes glared and they
howled with fury. The thought
flashed through my mind, that by this /
means could avoid them, viz: by
turning aside whenever they came
near; TO: they, by the peculiar for
nation Of their feet, are unable to run
son ice, except on q straight line,
I inmediatcly acted upon this PLAN.
The wolves having regained their
fee, spran directly towards me- /
The The race was renewed twenty yards
up the streani they were already
close upon my back; when I glided
round and dashed directly past my
.pursuers ffiierce yell greeted my
5eyolutia.s.,, nd thu wolves, slipping 8
on their haunches sailed onward pre-
sentin !. sssfast picture of hopeless
ness a'la t,siae.l Tsss,s Thus !. gss':-s !,
ed ncael atf.fisslsssi yasds az each
turning. Illus Was repeated two er
three titaess very ieoulent the assiseY
nd h.s s
G.tsS., 2. tfss, sy tessa sfisf:
came SC , 4, that they Il threw rS : siss
white foam oyer my dress as they
sprans 10 seize me, and their teeth
clashcd together like the spring Of, q
fox trap. Had my skates failed for
one instant, had | stopped on a stick
or caught my foot in a fissure in the
ice, the story / am now telling woulds
never have been told. ! thought all
the chances over; I knew where they
would first take hold of me if i fell; T
thought how long it would be before
l died, and when there would be a
search for tho body that would al-
ready have its tomb: for oh! how fast
mans mind traces all the dread coll
ors Of deaths picture, only those who
have been near the grim original can
tell. Il;
But soon I came opposite the house
and my hounds---I knew their deep
voices reused by the noise, bayed
turiously from the kennels. Ihcard
their chains rattle; how I wished they
would break them, and then would
have protectors that would be peers
to the ferccst denizens Of the forest.
The wolves taking the hint conveyed
by the dogs, stopped in their mad
career, and after moments consid-
GRAFTON, turned and fed. Watched
them until their dusky forms disap-.
pcarcd over a neighboring hill. =.
Then taking off my skates, I wended
my way to the house with feelings
which may be better imagined than
described.
But even yet, I never sec q broad
sheet of ice in tho moonshine, with
ont thinking Of that snufing breath
and those fearful things that followed
mo so closely down the frozen ken-s
nebcc.
a-~~>~~~~~~-. "a o.
IL In the way OF theft the following ba-
trays skill. II is from u San francisco
paper:
Der'rous Thefl.--W We understand that
a lady had valuable diamond ring stolen
from her finger (l) whist at soiree a few
evenings ago She had worn il outside her
glove. and had danced with a number Of
persons before shc inissed lhe jewell She
must have been extremely pre-occnpied
with some "ilaitering tale, not to have felt
| the removal of the ring.
The following from the same, is on
! evidence OF female herais,n: IS
Wei Doiie.--A youthful "Senor;ta,. ef
| modest bearing, passing along 10 consider
ablo haste, was savagelY attacked By a large
dog, which hRd sct upon her BY q number
OF misehei-loving boys. The animal, after
tearing the girls dress attempted 10 bite
her, when jumping step back she, with
tho auickness Of lightning. drew. d small
pistol from her bosom, ana sho ther canine
assailant dead upon the spot. leis need
less tn say. that,ho boys aftor witnessing