Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-05-13
s ses 4 rrcm TIsssi Ell Editors Projectors

couid avoid them, VIZ: by turning aside
whenever 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 my turning too
long, my sangui5ary antagonists came SO
near that they threw the white foam oyer
my dress, as they sprang to seize me, and
their teeth FLASHED together, like the spring
of foxtrap. Had my skates failed for one
instant. had 4 tripped on stick, or caught
my foot in fssure in the ice, the story
am now telling would never have been told.
| thought all 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 already have its tomb
for o. how fast mans mind traces out all
the dread colors of deaths picture, only
those who have been SO near the grim origi
nal can tell.
But soon came opposite the house. and
my hounds--l knew their deep yoices--rous-
ed by the noise. bayed furiously from the
kennels. heard their chains rattle how
| wished they would break them and then
should have protectors that would be peers
to the fiercest denizens of the forest. The
wolves, taking the hint conveyed by the
dogs, stopped in their mad career, and after
moments consideration, turned and fed.
watched them until their dusky forms dis
appeared over a neighboring hill Then,
taking off my skates, wendell my way to the
house, With feelings which may be better
imagined than described. But even vet
never see a broad sheet of ice in the moon
shine without thinking Of that snuffling
breath, and those fearful things that followed
me SO closely down the Kennebec"
As an appropriate appendix to the above,
we will quote the subjoinea perilous incl
dents in the life of the late Bishop Bascom,
which occurred when. in carly life, his SER
cult embraced the wild and unsettled from
tiersof Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio ]
lie was once followed several miles by a
large panther, which threatened at every
bound to spring upon him, and from which
he was rescued by reaching the cabin of a
settler. AT another time, he had gone some
distance from the house OF friend, where
he was stopping Unto the forest where he
"sS rs 1utNsiy ~ "oi'sS, pooh, anu, uu
conscious Of all danger. under the broad
spreading branches Of q tree. when be heard
the voice of a man crying to him, and telling
him to lie still till he fred on the peril of his
life. Quickly glancing his eye in the direc-
ton whence the sound proceeded, he saw his
friend, with his rifle elevated, and pointing
toward the branches of the tree under which
be was lying. Perfectly familiar with back
woods life, DR., Bascom knew that some
dreadful danger was lowering over him, aud,
with the least pereeptible motion of bis body,
he instantly turned bis gaze upward, when
he saw on limb Of the tree, not more than
twenty feet above him, majestic panther,
whisking his tail, aud just ready to leap up
on him This was fearful moment What
nerve it required to retain his self possession,
and thus save his life! for the least motion
on the part of DR.. Bascom would have has,
tened the spring Of the panther, and sealed
bis fate forever! And inevitable, with a
self-control and courage truly wonderful he
lay perfectly quiet, till the keen crack of the
rifle was heard. and the ferocious beast, pier
ced by the unerring aim of the back wood
man, fell lifeless by his side.