The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-04-23
4 frarfnl Enrngfmfnl.

borders at Burgundy,who was surround.
ed in all directions by wolves. CHANGING
10 have Young colt die. though, it u
good opportunity To lay bait for some
Of his savage enemies, aud accordingly
Mt nighiialL placed It on truss OF straw,
IN The midst OF his farm.vnri, surround.
ed on all sides by high walls. To the
folding gates which led into the ward, hc
had attached ropes. communicating with
the interior Of The house, So that u, any
moment il was possible to close them. -
Having muzslcd and shu, up the dogs
to prevent their barking, the farmer and
his family took up their post of obser-
vaiion within doors, TO watch the events
of the night.
1t was not long before they heard the
sound of wolves advancing. and could
perceive them 10y the light of the moon,
shifting the air Mt the entrance of the
yard, evidently attracted powerfully by
the tempting aroma of horsc-hcsh. on
the one hand, npprohensivc of some
peril 10 themselves If they entered in,
on the other They moved about rest
lcssly, now apparently yielding TO the
power of appetite, and then again stop
ped by fear
Al last, one great monster, whose
hunger was kcencr, or whose courage
grealer than that of the rest, bounded
onward, seized portion of the prey,
and quickly made his retreat with the
flesh in his mouth. Emboldened by his
impunity, the rest of the pack entered,
and greedily seized upon the carrion--
which, il must be mentioned, the farmer
had heavily weighted, TO prevent its be-
ing carried away. As soon rs they had
fairly commenced their feast, the signal
was given, the ropes drawn. the gates
suddenly closed, and the wolves, eight
in number, found themselves cnptiyes,
encompassed by walls too lofty for them
10 leap. and without hole through
which they could find exit; walls in
fact, built for the express purpose of
serving as u barrier agains, their incur
sions, and therefore equally capable OF
serving as their prison. Seeing their
foes thus secured, the party in the house
retired for the night, deferring further
operations till the morning.
AT break Of day, they looked upon
the scene. Their captives were restless
and uneasy. Their sagacity told them
they had been trapped, aud they were
running round like rats in cage, per-
petual'y searching for some mode of es.
cape. The farmer and his men took
their firearms, and stationed themselves,
some on the top Of the wall, and others
at the windows, opened their fire.
They succeeded but slowly in their
work of destruction. The wolf is tena.
cious of life, the men were Indifferent
marksmen, and the difficulty of hitting
the creatures was rendered greater by
their inccssant motion. Irrilatcd by
such wounds as they had received, they
ran hither and lhilher with mad impet-
uosity, and bounded with immense ngil-
iiy in their efforts either TO get at their
assailants, or to oyerlcap the walls by
which they were imprisoned.
Al length one of the party, mere
youth, in order TO take sieadier aim,
besirode the top Of the wall, his feet
hanging down on either side. a large
and powerful wolf, making desperate
spring, brought his jaws feariully near
the young mans foot, who, attempting
hurriedly TO liil his leg out of danger,
lost his balance, and fell headlong into
the court beneath. The wolves were
immediately upon him, eager TO avenge
the art that had ensnarcd them, aud the
wounds from which they were smariing.
For n moment CONSERVATION seized the
companions Of the poor lad. The fear
iul shrek he uttered as be fell, and The
sight Of the wolves fastening on his
throat, paralyze them. Their first in
siinct was TO cease firing, for they saw
that their bullets might hit the young
man. The farmer was The first TO re.
cover his presence Of mind, aud with
gallant self-devotion, leaped into the
yard TO the rescue, and found himself
in the midst Of eight furious wolves.
His example was followedby the
rest of the party, and a terrific conflict
en-ued. Each side fought with the en-.
crgy Of desperation. and the victim
whose misclance had precipilatcd hi,
terrible scene. hay bleeding and groan.
ins Ia the midst Mans strength, un.
aided by arms. !. Of little avail sgninsi
monsters 50 powerful, and the wolves
were rapidly getting the upper hands Of
their coDibaiants, when the farmers
wife, who was terrified witness Of the
scene remembered the dogs, that they
were muzzled and shut up Ia the house.
She Immediately unbound their mouth.
and threw them into the yard. Thl.
incident changed the fortune of the day.
The struggle was sustained With renew.
~ yigor, and NJ the end Of half an hour
the eight wolves hay dead on the ground.
aud half the dog. Of the farm lay At
their side. The lad who had fallen
from The wall. too, was nanglcd corpse, e,
and not mnn had escaped without se.
Iious wounds.
Numerous are the tragedies OF this
nature reeounied by the 6resides Of
burgundy, where The presence of lhese
fierce creatures occasions a constant
feeling gf terfor II R.u.aue. ~ Al