Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-31
WOLF STORY.

other man on the river can tell.
When first 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 saw George three times du-
ring that twelvemonth, 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 liked it,
for it seemed as if had company. But
one day in November was tired out of
being alone, and l started off towards
evening to 90 up to Georges. crossed
the river Just here, and went along the
edge of the water, swinging my rifle in
my hand, whistling for company's sake,
for it made pleasant echo in the woods
The night was cold, very clear, and there
was a pleasant moon. Just rs reached
the rock brook, close to the pond, heard
growl that startled me, and stopping
short, saw wolf with his paws buried
in the carcass Of deer, while his jaws
were full of the flesh. But he was not
eating, for he had seen me, and seemed to
be discussing the merit of the meal before
him, and the possible meal which pre-
sented for him. He was not any of your
dog wolves, but q grizzly rascal, as large
as Leo yonder, with longer hair and stou-
ter legs. He snarlcd once or twice more,
and was fool enough to show fight. If
had let him alone, he would have been
content with his feed, for they are cow
Rrdly animals, except when there are
drovcs of them, or unless you disturb
their eating,
"I took short aim at him and shot
lie jumped the instant pulled the trigger,
and l missed his breast and broke his
fore-paw. Then he yelled and cama at
me, and heard as thought, fifty more
answer him. II was not ten seconds be-
fore was in the first crotch of the near
drels were under it, looking at me, whln-
ming, and licking their lips as If their
mouths Matcred for me, didn't under
stand their language, or l would have
suggested the idea of satisfying their aP-
petites upon the deer which lay few
rods off. But loaded my rifle, and shot
one of them dead There was more for
them to eat, if they had chosen to devour
one of their own sort, but | could blame
them for refusing to cat the lean, bony
carcass of such comrade, especially
when a tolerably we'll fattencd man was
in a sApling close by, ard tho more espe-
cially when, if they had any eyes, they
would sec that the sappling was splitting
in two at the crotch, and must come
down soon, in spite of my repugnsnce to
closer acquaintance with them. So 1t
was thought; and before l had time to
reload my rifle and despatch another OF
them, crack went the tree, and l dropped
my rifle Just quick enough to catch with
arms and legs around tho tree, and hold
on for life, till could get my knife from
my pocket, open it. and shove it in my
belt, that done, watched my chance, and
if there was ever scared wolf, that was
one when lighted on his back and wound
nv arms around him, and we rolled away
together. The other two didn't under
stand it at all, and backed off to watch
the fight, A pretty moonlight tussle that
was, AT length the wolfgotme under and
he and both thought was done for
He planted his two paws on my breast,
and the claws left marks that are there yet
while he seized my shoulder with his
villainous jaws"
Black paused to show us the scars on
ulS DTeASL anu aTIlSI pdLSlSAASAAS WV NN'. >
scar, where the flesh was torn from the
bone on his shoulder. Ho continued:
'Iwas little faint when his teeth went
in. 1t was unpleasant; and had time
to think of 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
i4'Ad, for he tore out his teeth, and tore
out my coat, shirt and flesh, too, and
sslzed on my fur cap, 1t was a lucky
r5hlstake for me. felt his wet lips on
my toreheSd. and had just time to let go
my hold OF MS throat aud clutch my knife,
when he shook off the can, and made
another attempt to get mouthful, but
his throat was in no fix to swallow it if he
got it, for my knife blade was working
desperately across his jugular, and the
point of it was feeling between the verte.
brm for his spinal marrow. He was 1
dead wolf, and gave it up like one fairly
whipped. ..
/ had bled considerably when l rose
but wasn't weakened particle Th'
whole had passed in less than halt q MN
ute, and was ready for the other TWO
that now came at me both together.
"1seized 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. If the first wolf was
scared when fell on him, this one was