The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-02-24
EBENSBIRG, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY a, 1853.


where logs had been drawn out. 1t was a mile
nearer this way to clearing than by the river
But burst not attempt it with sleigh.
On we sped. That Internal pack, neck and
neck with us, and every now and then jaws shut
ting like steel-traps close to our persons. Once
around that angle and hoped.
How manly shouted to the noble brute
We neared the turn in that race for life.
Heavens. the internal devils had crossed a.
head, and hung in dark masses. A demon ms
tinct seemed to possess them.
few rods more The wolves seemed to feel
that we had chance, for they howled more dew
ish than ever.
With sweep the horse turned in spite of me-
The left runner struck high on the roots of
pine, and the sleigh swung over like flash, bu-
rying in the new snow. Away sped the horse
and my heart sunk as heard his quick foot
steps dying out to wards home.
The maddened pack had followed the horse,
and shot by were thrown out upon the
bank, for number Of rods. shrek from
Carry arrested them in their career; in an ms
tant they were upon gave one long, des-
perate shout, in the hope Of arousing the folks
in the cabins. l had no time to shout again
Their hot breath burned upon me and their dark
masses gathered around like the shadows of
DOOM With a broken limb, wildly kept them
at bay for o moment, but fercer and closer sur
ged the gnashing teeth. Garry lay insensible
on the ground before me. There was one more
chance. A stunted pine grew upon the outer
edge of the bank and shot out nearly horizontal
ly over the river below, full 100 feet from the
surface
Dashng madly in the teeth with my cudgel,
i yelled with the waning energy of despair,
grasped Garry i'll one arm and dashed reckless
y cut upon the pine. | thought not of the dam
ger; | cared not. | braved one danger to escape
a greater. L reached the branches. breathed
freer | heard the fierce howl Of the bafled
party.
turned my head and God Of mercy. long
shadow was gliding along on the trunk of our
last refuge Carey was helpless, and it requi-
red all the strength of intense despair to hold
her. and remain upon the slippery trunk l
tui ned TO face the wolf: he Was within reach of
my arm. l struck with my fist. and again those
fearful jaws shut with snap, as my hand
brushed his head. With n demoniac growl he
fastened upon the shoulder of Carey. oh for
help, for a weapon, for foothold on earth where
could have grappled with the monster
heard the long fings crouch into the a esh,
and the smothered breathing. as the wolf con-
tinued to make sure his bold, Oh it was hor-
rihie. beat him over the head, but he only
deigned a muncaiug growl. | yelled, wept,
cursed and prayed, but the hungry devil cared
not for curses or prayers. His companions
were still bowling and whining, and venturing
out upon the pine. L almost wished the tree
would give way.
The wolf still kept his hold upon Carry
None can dream how the blood Missed and swept
through my knotted veins. At last the brute,
hungry for his prey, gave a wrench. and nearly
threw me from the pine. Carry was helpless
and insensible. Even the crunching teeth of
the monster did not awaken her from the death
ly swoon into which she had fallen.
Another wrench made by the woif and
Carrys waist slipped from my aching grasp,
leaving me but the hold upon the skirt of her
dress. The incarnate devil had released his
hold but * If of tt,e bopa
tanned his grip on the shoulder of Carry.
The end had come. My brain reeled. The
long body of the wolf hung downward like dark
shadow into the abyss, fast wearing out my re-
manning strength. The blood gushed warmly
from my nostrils, and lights danced and flashed
across my eyeballs. The 0vertaxed muscles of
the hand would relax and instantly close con-
upon the eluding skirt. | heard n tear
ing as ii of stitches. The black mass writhed
and wrenched as if to deepen the hold. A sharp
cracking, mingled with the humming noises at
my head, and the dress parted at the waist, l
shrieked as heard the swooping sound of the
fall of the black devil and his victim, they
shot down, down into the darkness / heard
something like the bay of the old house dog, |
and the firing Of gnns-and heard more.
Weeks and months passed away, before the
fearful dellrium of that night left me. 1 re-
turned to consciousness in my fathers cabin, an
emacated creature, as helpless as a child My
old. The raven black locks of twenty years had
changed to the slvery of eighty years of
age. Look ut this arm that clung to Carry =
1t is withered- have never raised it since that
night. In my dreams l feel again that fearful
night, and awake, covered with the cold clammy
sweat that gathered upon me while on that pine.
The neighing of the horse, as he dashed into
the clearing, had aroused the people at home
The empty and broken sleigh told brief story.
The howling of the wolves arose the blast,
and with guns and the old house dog, they rush
ed to the scene.
They found me senseless upon the trunk, COW
cred with blood, and wolf feeling his way to-
wards me. In turning at the sound of their ap-
proach, he slipped and went down upon the ice.
Our people looked long for Carry Mason, but
did not find her till next morning. They then
went down on the ice and found her corpse
The wolves had not picked her crushed bones
l thank God for that.
The fall had partially broken the ice, and the
oozing water had frozen and fastening her long
black hair as it had floated out. The wolf had
not released his death grasp, and his teeth were
buried In her pure, white shoulder.
The spring sunshine and birds. and green leaves
had come again. as tottered out My sister
of all my youthful hopes. and al that loved. The
wild flowers were already starting on the sacred
mound. lwept over them and blessed them, for
they were blooming over the grave of Carry.
n6-"Sonny, how are wages here!"
don't know"
''What docs your father get On Saturday
nights ?"