St. Mary's beacon., 1853-05-12

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ins "a iinslsd too long over the polish-
ing Of thosebras buttons. Perhaps the
setting and tr,.aning Of, shat splendid
collar had delayed am beyond his time.
Perhaps. too, he was anxious to get as
quickly as possible out of the wood.
And we'll might he wish as quickly
as possible to get out of the woods.
There was rout of wolves at distance
on every side. They were yelling
behind him the dismal howl was echoed
far in from and right and left they were
rushing with uncouth clamor through the
forest in pursuit of their prey. Gradual
lv 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.
Z But he 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 frst
for considerable time. If you walk
steadily, without seeming afraid, it is
still more hesitating. This the old fiddler
understood. He kept on at a regular
pace, afraid to run, lest the whole rout
should be on him at once. But the dam
ger continued to increase. Every mo-
sse3if Dick shaddered Is blacs form
rushed by, and he expected to be seized,
for as each brute approached him he
heard its jaws snapPing with ring like
that of stecl-trap. The pack was
evidently gathering. But he knew that
little way on there was m old clearing
with deserted hut in the middle, and
this he hoped to reach before the
wolves began their attack.
They were, however, becoming each
instant more audacious. He could see
their wide green eyes sparkling through
the thickets around. At length,
some of them swept by close to his legs.
swapping at him as they passed. He
struck out with his fiddle. The strings
Jared loudly, and, oh what relief came
to his shivering soul when he perceived
that the sound made the brutes stand eff.
He Immediately struck his hand violent
ly across the chords. A wolf that was
within two yards of him leaped aside in
terror. He smote his violin vehementlv
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 pavement of pearl in the
watery light of the moon: All round the
clear sky appeared Ikea silver trellis
through the lace-hke branches of the
trees; and in the centre of the field
stood an. object, which Dick at once
recognized to be the hut of which
he was in search. He bounded hastily
upon the white surface, scraping the
strings with his hand until they shtieked
harshly; and the wolves roared again
with horror. They paused at the edge of
the clearing, with tails between their
legs. looking after the singular being
whom they desired, but feared to attack.
It was but for moment, however. The
savage instinct was instantly renewed,f
and again they gave chase, yelling along,
their black shadows hurrying like phan-
toms over the snow. Still Dick contin-
ued striking his fiddle; but even this
would not have saved him had he not
reached the hut just as the whole pack
was at his heels. In he rushed, slammed