The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-27


AT that moment dark shadow glided up
by the side of.our sleigh, and so wild and
devilish a yell l never heard before nor
since. My flesh crawled on my bones. A
cold shiver ran TO my heart and crept over
my head as though the hairs were standing
on end. Two orbs glared out like demon
lights, and l could hear the painting of the
eager beast,
Firmly grasping the lines and shouting
sharply TO the horse, we shot away.
The horse needed no urging. At the act,
that internal chorus again burst out in earn
est, and their dark forms leaped in length
ened strides on each side of us. The speed
was fearful, and yet the yelling devils kept
pace. Turning to speak to Garry, l saw a
dark form LEAP into the path, and as we
sped ahead, his teeth shut with a vice like
snap, missing Garry, and stripping her
shawl from her shoulders.
With shrek she clung to me, and with
my arm 1 saved her from being dragged out
of her seat.
Heavens It was horrible We were to
be eaten alive.
became addened-reckless- shouted
to the horse, reeking with foam. We went
at a fearful rate. The stumps and roots,
and uneven places in the road, threatened
every instant to wreck our sleigh.
Home was three miles ahead. Oh, for a
world to give for a hOme
As the road struck the river bank, it
turned shortly on the brink of fearful pre-
cipice. Here was new danger 1t was a
difficult place, and not only danger of up.
setting, but of being hurled into the river.
There was a path across this angle of
land, where logs had been drawn out. 1t
was mile nearer this way to the clearing
than by the river. But | burst not attempt
it with a sleigh.
On we sped that internal pack neck
and neck with us, and every now aud then
jaws shutting like steel traps close to our
persons. Once round that angle, and
hoped.
How madiy shouted to the noble brute
We neared the turn in that race for life.
Heavens the internal devils had crossed
ahead and hung in dark masses. A demon
instinct seemed to possess them.
A few rods more The wolves seemed
to feel that we had chance, for they howled
more deVilish than ever.
With a sweep, the horse turned in spite
Of me, The left runner struck high on the
roots of pine, and the sleigh swung over
like flash, burying us in the new snow.
Away sped the horse, and my heart sunk
as heard his quick footsteps dying out
towards home.
The maddened pack had followed the
horse, and shot by us as we were thrown
out upon the bank, for a number of rods.
A shrek from Garry arrested them in their
career; in an instant they were upon us.
| gave one long and desperate shout, in the
hope of arousing the folks at the cabins /
had no time to shout again. Their hot
breath burned upon me, and their dark
masses gathered around like the shadows
of doom. With a broken limb, ! wildly
kept them at bay for moment, but fercer
and closer surged the knashing teeth Garry
lay insensible on the ground before Inc.
There was one more chance. A stunted
pine grew upon the outer edge Of the bank,
and shot out nearly horizontally over the
river below, full hundred feet from the
surface.
Dashing madly in the teeth of the pack
with my cudgel, yelled with the warning
energy of despair, grasped Garry with one
arm, and dashed recklessly out upon the
pine. l thought not upon the dauger--I
cared not ] braved one danger to escape
a greater reached the branches, breathed
freer, as heard the fierce howl of the baf
fled pack.
turned my head, and God of mercy, &
long shadow was gliding along on the tfunl
of our last refuge. Garry was helpless, anc
it required all the strength of intense de
spair to hold her and remain upon the slip
perry trunk. turned to face the wolf-ht
was within reach of my arm, struck with
my fist, and again those fearful Jaws shu
with a snap as my hand brushed his head
With demonac growl, he fastened upol
the shoulder of Garry 0! for help-for
weapon-for a foothold on earth, where
could have grappled with the monster.
heard the long fangs crunch into tn
flesh, and the smothered breathing, as tn
wolf continued to make sure of his hold
Oh! it was horrible. | beat him over th
head, but he only deigned a munchirj
growl. l yelled, cursed, wept prayed; bu
the hungry devil cared not for curses 0
prayers His companions were still howl
ing and whining, and venturing out upol
the pine. | almost wished the tree woul
give away.
The wolf still kept his hold upon Garry
! None can dream how the blood hissed an
| swept through my knotted veins. At las
the brute, hungry for his prey, gave
wrench, and nearly threw me from the pine
Carry was helpless and insensible. Eve
the crunching teeth of the monster did nc
awake her from the deadly swoon int
which she had fallen.
Another wrench was made by the vol
and Carry's waist slipped from my achin
grasp, leaving me but the hold upon tn
Skirt of her dress. The incarnate dev
had not releasad his hold, but, as if awal
of danger beneath, retained his grip on IL
shoulder Of Garry.
The end had come. Ny brain reeleG
The long body Of the wolf hung downwai
like a dark shadow into the abvss, ia
wearing out my remaining strength. II
blood gushed warmly from my nOstrls, ar
lights danced and flashed across my ey
balls, the Overtaxed muscles of the har
would relax, aud as instantly close convu
siveIy upon the eludng skirt. | heard
tearing, as if of stitches The black ma
beneath writhed and wrenched as if
deepen his hold. A sharp cracking. mi
gled with humming noises in my head, an
the dress parted at the waist l shrieke
as / heard the swOoping sound of the fall
the black devil and his victim, as they sh
down, down, into the darkness. | hear
something like the bay of the old houi
dog, and the firing of guns-and heard 1
more.
Weeks and months passed away befol
the fearful delirium of that night left m
| returned to consciousness in my father