Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1853-11-11

in her husbands sIedge; end though occa-
sionally she had seen wolves lowering iu
the distance, no serious danger had as yet
been encountered. She had, therefore, no
fear, though apprehension were entertained
that after a season of unusual severity the
wolves would pour out of the forest in gTea,
force, and rendered untameablv ferocious
by the hunger gnawing their vlta's.
Farewel!s, cordial and grateful, were Ut
tered messages Of irenaliness passad, the
horse led ou, and, with word, the sledge
darted off into the white plain,-the young
children crouchng snugly in the bottom of
the sledge, or each side of their mother, with
a sense of comfort and security that made
her smile with pleasure. The hood was
drawn ever the tough ash poles 10 keep the
falling snow away should storm happen,
which by The heavy blue Of The distant horl-
zon before Thea, seemed not unlikely
Away went the noble seeds, away sped the
light compac! carriage with speed like lha,
of the wind, and which seemd likely, with
in few brief hours, TO place them ~ safety
and comfort within the walls OF their own
lcomlOrtable habI8tloD.
With an occasional cry of encouragement
the mother urged, almost unnecessarily, the
horses lo increase their speed; and she had
forgotten, in the ranidity with which they
were travelling, that there were such things
as wolves in the country when suddenly
a long low bowling, rising upon the air and
increasing in intonalion, struck chill like
that of death 10 her heart, and warned the
Ifrighled mother that the wolves were out.
Horrible demon beasts murderous and
obscene there is no creatures in this won
derful universe that seems so much 10 have
meriied the adherence Of man the wolf;
and still il would be srraigning the wond-
rous system Of the creation if lis uses, in
some sense or other were ignored. The
sense Of f-Preservaiion, however, that
places man in armes against that which is
inimical 10 his safety, appears justified in
wsging war with il, and therefore every
means that can be taken to subdue, and even
to exierminale these frighlful monsters, is
sanctioned in its very purpose.
The horses too had heard this fearful cry,
and their uneiring instincts told them thai a
foe TO be feared was on their track. With
smoking nostrils, erec, ears, and distended
/ eyes, tney dashed along with the speed 'oi
the whrlwind : and still the long melancho-
ly howl gradually rose behind them while
the pale mother commended herself and her
children to God, aud prayed for succor
which only seemed TO depend on the speed
and wind Of the brave animals.
The forest was pouring ont lis fourfoot-
ed assassins. The flock lhickened. They
rushed painting on along the snow, and the
! black dos increased into masses. They be-
held the prey that Ihey must run down, and
! their red hroa,s already lhirsed for blood.
The bowling increased-ihc rushing speed
with which they advanced became quicken
ed, and like living torrent they swept
over the plain. The bleak wind sung a 10"
moaning song, as if i, were the dirge ofthe
human victims, while the horses strained
every nerve and madlv-mad!y on from the
reach of their hltSule enemies they sought
10 fly.
ooh sweet mother Of heaven protect US J"
mnrmured the mother, hoping against hope,
and slll urging the s,eeds on, when-crack !!
one horse stumbled-a trace snapped
. pole broke; and while score Of inIurla-
ted wolves fastened like leeches on the poor
horse, the other had at the eminent risk OF
ovefturning The sledge, thereby booming It's
freight to certain death,) detached himself
and swep, madly on.
For short space there was a lul. The
animals were gorging Of their prey. With
ravennus throats they tore the flesh from
the bones, drank The blood, devoureJ the
very heart o! she beast; and those who still
| ihungered and ihitsted, n ol being able 10 OBJ
tain their desired food, or break lbe living
ring around the poor brute. gathered up their
energies for fresh pursuit, and indomllably
Sc, forth after the sledge, which now, alas !!
sensibly slackened in lis tremendous pace.
| In the struggle of The horse to free itself
from It's companion the cape of the sledge
was torn down, and The eyes Of the mother
were almost blinded by the awful sight
Scores of wolves, with Iolling tongues, blac-
log eyes, and erect hair, were pouring on
after them, and the children, who bad slept
I'LL now, awoke up, and perceiving their
danger, increased The mothers alarm and
apprehension by their cries.
God alone could save them now!
The heart of The mother sank. A deadly
sickness came upon her the cry of the FL
thy animals rose now into an almost eXult-
ing howl Their instinct told them that the
horse mus, ere long give in, and the fore
most, large, strong creatures, pressed on
with redoubled eagerness. She saw the de-
mon faces Of the brules behind-she heard
their fierce and unrelenting painting, and still
she encouraged the noble horse, though
every moment lessenng the distance be-
tween the pursuers and the pursued.
The hirsue monsters were close upon the
sledge. At times their hideous heads would
appear before her with their glaring, devour-
ing eyes fixed upon her end her children,
and once or twice, some bolder than the res,