The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-06-11

was n silen, and dismal solitude
a solitude that the very silence seemed
full Of echoes. the very Loneliness full
of beings. But Dick went on, regard
ing nothing bu, the visions that played
before h,s eyes, of warm, cheering
room, crowded with happy people, of
every face beaming with satisfaction as
he appeared, Of homage yielded to him
by old and young, of universal allcgi.
aDce TO his sway, as the yiceroy OF King
Etiquette. Still, dignity and all things
considered, he could not but hasten his
steps. Perhaps he had fingered too
long over the polishing Of those brass
buttons. Perhaps The setting and trim
ming Of that splendid collar had delay
ed him beyond his time. Perhaps, too,
he was anxious to get MS quickly ~ pos
sible out Of the wood And well he
might wish as quickly as possible 10 get
out of the wood. There was rout of
wolves at distance on every side
They were yelling behind 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. Gradually
the sounds came nearer. They seemed
to be closing around him. lie hurried
as he heard them among the cracking
bushes. lie began to run. lie 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 eve
ry side.
But he soon stopped running. lie
knew the nature OF the wolf; il is very
cautious about attacking human being
and never does so without following
him first for a considerable time. II
you walk steadily, without seeming
afraid, it is still more hesiiating. This
the old fiddler understood. lie kept on
at regular pace, afraid TO run, lest the
whole rout should be on him at once
Blu, the danger continued to increase.
Every moment Dick shuddered as IA
black form rushed by and he expected
to be seized, for as each brute approach
ed him he heard its jaws swapping with
a ring like that Of steel-trap. The
pack was evidently gathering. But he
knew that little way on there was an
old clearing with deserted hut in the
middle, and this he hoped to reach be-
fore 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 one Of
them swept by close to his legs, snap
ping at him as they passed. He struck
out with his fiddle. The strings Jared
loudly, and oh, what relief came to him
when he perceived that the sound made
the brutes stand off. lie Immediately
struck his hand violently across the
cords. A wolf that was within two
yards of him leaped aside in terror
lie smote his violin veh emently again
and again, and so proceeded, walking
rapidly forward, raising that strange
music in the woods TO terrify the crea-
lures that beset him.
Soon he reached the clearing. 1t was
n 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 a silver trel.
lis through the lace-like branches Of the
trees and in the centre OF the field
stood an object which Dick at once re-
cognized TO be the hut of which he was
in search. lie bounded hastily upon
To white surface. scraping the strings
with his hand until they shrieked harsh
ly; 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. II
was for moment, however. The saw
age instinct was instantly renewed, and
again they gave chase, yelling along
their black shadows hurrying like phan
toms over the snow. Still Dick con
timed striking his fiddle but even ihi,
would not have saved him had he mol
reached the hut Just as the whole paci
was at his heels. In he rushed, slam
med the rickeiy door, clambered up q
beam, emerged through hole upon the
roof and there remained pcrched upor
the gable, with the frail tenement lite
rally shaking beneath his weight. Lucky
il was for him that he had secured hi'
position. The door Of the cabin did no
for moment Withstand the attacks o
the wolves who clambered against II
and Immediately ihronged the interior
They were nov wild with rage. The
lonped up, they guashed their teeth ,ihe.
closed their jaws with that sharp snaI
80 horrible 10 the ears Of the fiddler, ans
he almost fell from his roosi IN despair
bat he remembered the effect OF bis yio
lin. lie had not yet drawn the boV
= from its case, bat now did 50, struck
shrieking across the strings, forced al
the while to keep bis legs kicking higI
, in tic sir to AVOID the trap-like fang
that were only fe~ inches below !
an instant the yells ceased, and the ne
gro went on drawing forth the mos
Wild, hysterieal ard grating sounds iroI
his ifienaly violin.
II was singular 10 observe, boWeyel
I fhst tlts hsfissroi,f noise had no nfhe