St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1853-05-12

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c5a1A trimrzAsgg of that splendid
cdilar haddelayed him beyond his time.
Perhaps, too, he was anxious to get as
quickly as possible out of the wood.
And well might he wish as quickly
as possible to get out of the woods.
There was a rout of wolves at distance
on erery side. They were yelling
behin him the dismal howl was echoed
far in front and right and left they were
rushing with uncouth clamor through the
forest in pursuit of their prey. Gradual
ly the sounds came nearer. They
seemed TO be closing round him. He
hurried as he heard them amid the
cracking bushes. He began to run. He
heard them tearing along the faster for
his running. He leaped forward mad
with horror, for the wood seemed alive
with devils, and pack of hungry wolves
appeared charging upon him from every
side.
But ne soon stopped running. He
knew the nature of the wolf: it is very
cautious Of attacking human being, ana
never does so without following him first
tor considerable time. If you walk
steadily, without seeming afraid, it is
'stif more hesitating. This the old fiddler
understood. He kept on at regular
PAD, afraid to run, lest the whole rout
shof Id be on him at once. But the dam
ger continued to increase. Every mo-
msnt Dick shuddered as a black form
Iahed by, and he expected to be seized,
-zaf'N 'N-----=a4-z--A4 8,
heaH its jaws swapping with ring ike
that Pf stee1-trap. The pack was
evidln lntly gathering. But he knew that
Lift way on there was an old clearing
witlh deserted hut in the middle, and
this he hoped to reach before the
wot tcs began their attack.
hey were, however, becoming each
insa int more audacious. He could see
thdf wide green eyes sparkling through
tho thickets around. At length,
sonc Of them swept by close to his legs,
shipping at him as they passed. He
stack out with his fiddle. The strings
aed loudly, and, oh what relief came
tohis shivering soul when he perceived
that the sound made the brutes stand off.
Hs Immediately struck his hand violent
ly across the chords. A wolf that was
within two yards Of him leapcd aside in
terror. He smote his violin vchcmcntly
again and again, and SO proceeded,
walking rapidly forward, raising that
strange music in the woods to terrify the
creatures that beset him.
Soon he reached the clearing. 1t was
broad space, covered with snow, which
shone like a pavement Of pearl in the
watery light of the moon. All round the
clear sky appeared like silver trellis
through The Iaoe-like branches of the
trees |, and in the centre of the field
sEod, an object, which Dick at once
Esss,eaea be the hut of which
.Iarch. He bounded hastily
lie surIsre, scraping the
hand until they shrieked
iarshly 7andEthe wolves roared again
With horror. They paused at the edge oi
the clearing, with tails between their
legs, looking after the singular being
whom they desired, but feared to attack
II was but for a moment, however. The
savage instinct was instantly renewed,
and again they gave chase, yelling along,
their black shadows hurrying like phan-
toms over the snow. Still Dick contin-
ucd striking his fiddle; but even this
would not have saved him had he no
reached the hut just as the whole pack
was at his heels. In he rushed, slammed