Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-22

A skater Chased by Wolf.

A thrilling incident in American ooun-
try life is wildly sketchcd in Evenings at
Donadson's Manor" In the winter Of
1914, the relator sallied forth one evening
to skate on the kennebec, in Maine, by
moonlight, and ascended that river nearly
two miles, turned into little stream to ex-
plore its course:
Fir and hemlocit OF century's growth
(he says) met overhead and formed an
archway radiant with frostwork. All was
dark within, but was young and fearless;
and as peered into an nnbroken forest
that reared itself on the borders Of the
stream, ! laughed with very joyousness.--
My wild hurrah rang through the silent
woods and | stood listening to the echo
that reverberated again and again until all
was hushed. Suddenly sound arose; it
seemed TO me to come from beneath the
ice; it sounded low and ,tremulous at frst,un-
til it ended in low. wild yell. was ap-
palled. Never before had sucha noise met
my ears. ] though it more than mortal
SO fierce, and amidst such an unbroken
solitude! 1t seemed as thro ugh 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 spiritual My energies returned
and looked around me for some means OF
escape. AS turned my head to The shore
| could see two dark objects dashing
through the underbush at a pace nearly
double in speed to my own. BY the ra-
pidity and the short yells they occasionally y
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
very little pleasure in making their acquain-
tauce Their untameablc iierceness, and
the unerring strength which seems part OF
their nature, render them objects of dread
to every bcnighted traveller.
There was no time for thought, so | bent
my head and dashed rnadly forward. Ma
ture turned ME toward home. The light
fakes Of snow spun tror, the iron of my
skates, and | was some distance from my
pursuers, when their fierce howl told me
was their fugitive. | did not look back; |
did not feel afraid, nor sorry, nor even
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 ofbody ami mind was exert
ed for escape. l was perfectly at home
on the ice. Many were the days that |
had spent on my good skates. never think
ing that at one time they would be my only
means of safety. Every half minute en-
alternate yell from my pursuers told me
too certainly that they were in close pursuit
Nearer and nearer they came; l heard their
feet pattering on the ice nearer still,
could feel their breath and hear their snuff
fling scent.
Every nerve and muscle in my frame
was stretched to the utmost tention. The
trees along the shore seemed to dance in
the uncertain light, ard my brain turned
with my own breattiess spcad yet still
they seemed tc hiss forth their breath with
sound truly horrible, when an nvolun-
tary motion on my part turned me out Of
my Course. The wolves, close behind,
unable to stop, and as unable to turn on
the smooth ice. slipped and fell. still going
on far ahead; their tongues were lol,lng
out, their white tusks glaring from their
b,oomy mouths; their dark, shaggy breasts
were heeced with foam, and as they pass
ed me, their eyes glared aud they howlcd
with fury.
The thought flashed on my mind that by
this means | could avoid them: viz; by
turning aside when they come too near; for
they, by the formation of their feet, are
unable to run on the ice, except in a
straight line.
AT one time by delaying to turn too
long, my sangulnary antagonists came so
near, that they threw the white foam over
my dross as they sprung 10 seize me, and
their teeth clashed together Ike the spring
of a fox trap.
Had my skates failed for one instant,
had | tripped on a stick or caught my foot
in a assure in the ice, the story that am
now telling would never have been told.
| thought all the chances over; / knew
where they would take hold of me if l fell;
thought how long it would be before
died; and then there would be search for
the body that would already have its
tomb: for oh! how fast mans mind traces
out all the dread colors of deaths picture,
only those who have been so near the grim
original can tell.
But | soon came opposite the house.
and my hounds-I knew their deep
voices--roused by the noise, brsyed furi-
ously from the kennels. heard their
chains rattle, how wished they would
break them! and then l would have pro-
tectors that would be peers to the fercest
denizcns of the forest. The wolves. TAX
ing the hint conveyed by the dogs, stop
ped in their mad career, and after a mo-
ment's consideration, turned and fled. !
watched them until their dusky forms dis
appeared over neighborniug hill, then,
taking off my skates, wended my way to
the house with feelings which may be bet
ter imagined than described. But even
yet never see broad sheet Of ice in the
moonshine, without thinking Of the snuff
fling breath and those fearful things that
followed me so closely down the Kenne-
bee.
Sir Walter ScO0t's last effort.
AT an advanced period Of life, Sir Wal
ter Scott, struck with misfortune, entered