Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-03-25
THE STORY TELLER.
A Wolf Story.

tell you story
Whereupon Joe turned over towards the fire
and looked up at Black, and in so doing, struck
his foot against Nora's nose, who sprang sud-
denly upon him, thinking it was some of Joe s
fun, whereat Joe rolled out into the room and
woke Leo up, who joined the sport, and while
Joe was wrestling with the dogs, Black contin-
ued in this wise
When firsr came to the cabin, there was
no clearing within thirty miles, and the only
neighbor had was George B -, who died
last year, up by the cedar hill, ten miles or so,
away. 1t was little lonesome, and yet liked
it for year, and l saw George three times
during that twelve months. But the next six
months | never saw man, and used to sit
and look at myself in the still water over the
side of my canoe, and like it, for it seemed as if
l had company. But one day in November
was tired of being alone, and | started off to-
ward evening TO go to Georges. | crossed the
river just here, and went up along the edge of
the water swinging my rifle in my hand, whist
ling for company's sake, for it made pleasant
echo in the woods. The night was coolish,
very clear, and there was pleasant MOON
Just as / reached the rock brook close on the
side of the pond, | heard growl that started
me, and stopping short, | saw wolf standing
with his paw buried in the carcass of deer,
while his jaws were full of flesh. But he was
not eating, for he had seen me, and seemed to
be discussing the comparative merits oft he meal
before him, and the possible meal that l pre-
sented for him. He wasn't any of your dog
wolves, but grizzly rascal, large as Leo yon-
der, with larger kair and stouter legs. He
snarled once or twice more, and | was fool
enough to show fight. If had let him alone,
he would have been content enough with his
food; they are cowardly animals except when
there are droves of them, unless you disturb
their eating. l took short aim at him and
shot. He jumped the instant pulled the trig-
ger, and | missed his breast, and broke his fore
paw. Then he yelled and came at me, and l
heard, as thought, fifty more answer him.
1t wasn't ten seconds b9fore | was in the first
crotch of the nearest tree, and four of the griz-
ely scoundrels were under it, looking at me,
whining and licking their lips as if their mouths
watered for me. | didn't understand their Ian
satisfying their appettes on the deer which lay
a few rods off. But couldn't persuade them
to take any hints Of that sort, and so loaded
my rifle and shot one of them as dead as the
c,rt IN aat II how
had chosen to devour their own sort, but
couldn't blame them for refusing the lean, bony
carcass of such comrade, especially when a
tolerably well fatted man was in small sap
ling close by, and more especially when, if
they had any eyes, they could perceive that the
sapling was splitting in two at the crotch, and
| must come down soon in spite of my repug-
nance to a closer acquaintance with them. So
it was though, and before | had time 10 reload
my rifle and despatch another of them, crack
went the tree, and dropped my rifle just quick
enough to catch with arms and legs around the
tree and hold on for life, till could get out my
knife from my pocket, open it, and shove it in
my belt. That done, l watched my chance,
and if there ever was a scared wolf, that was
one when lighted on his back and wound my
arms around him, and we rolled away together.
The other two didn't understand it at all. and
backed off to watch the fght,-a pretty moon
light tussle that was. At length the wolf got
me under, and thought was done for. He
planted his two paws in my breast, and the
=, loft ii. IL. IL. Il.
he seized my shoulder with his villainous
jaws
Black paused to show US the scars on his
breast and arms, particularly the large scar
where the flesh was torn from the bones on the
shoulder. He continued
i was little faint when his teeth went in.
1t was unpleasant, and had time to think of a
dozen other ways of dying, any one of which
would have preferred to that, had choice been
possible. The wolf apparently didn't like the
hold he had, for he tore out his teeth, and tore
out my coat, shirt and flesh too, and seized
again at my fur cap. 1t was lucky mistake
for me. l felt his wet lips on my forehead,
and just had time to let 60 my hold of his throat
and clutch my knife, when he shook off the cap
and made another attempt to get mouthful
but his throat was in fix to swallow it if he
got it, for my knife blade was working des-
perately across his jugular, and the point of i,
was feeling between the vertebre for his spinal
marrow. He was dead wolf, and he gave il
up like one fairly whipped.
had bled considerably when l rose, but
wasn't weakened particle. The whole had
passed in less than half minute, and | was
ready for the other two; they now came at me
both together. ..-
| seized my rifle and met one with the barrel
across the nose and foored him. As he picked
himself up, seized him by the hind foot. ii
the first wolf was scared when fell on him
this one was more so. / shall never forget the
howl which escaped him as swung him in the
air and struck the other blow with the body
of his comrade. The other one, the first
wounded, frightened at the novel fight, yam
ished in the woods, and Twas left with this one
in my hands. He seemed to let out his voice
with tremendous force as he went around nv
head twice. The centrifugal force, as they
used to call il at school, forced out his wind, bu,
as let him fly, his scream was fairly demona-
cal. He went rod from the bank, and the