The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-04-05

hrst heard them, ten minutes ago. Thcr,
they are They cannot be more thar
half mile off.
What are we to do p asked the bar
on. know you are Centland man
and more used to these things than
am
Why sir said the servant, : if the,
come up with US, we will take no notice
OF them, unless they attack us. As they
are very timid creatures the glare of the
the lamps and the sight of us will keer
them off, aud in an hour we shall be in
But | would advise you sir, to draw the
bullets from your large pistols, and load
them with swan shot, it would be more
TO the purpose to wound good many
than to kill one or two
20 papa = cried Helena. as the baron
took his pistols from the top of the car.
riagc. what shall we do p
We shall do what we can. nv dear
child. and God will do the rest for us
There is no great danger from these
wolves. except in the very depth of win
ter. and if there were, He who delivered
David from the paw of the lion, ana the
paw of the bear, and Daniel from the
seven hungry lions, can deliver us also.
They are coming sir said Erick.
The baron looked, and about hun
dred yards back, to the right, in the
woods he could just make out a grey
mass moving among the tress, and leap
ing ont into the carriage track. They
did not howl, but baycd fearfullv. and
as they trotted swiftly along. you might
hear the rustlng and shuflling of the
snow under their feet They moved
steadily, bat altogether, and were evil
IDENTIFY gaining on the carriage. The
post-boys applied both whip and spur.
and the horses themselves. in an agony
of fear, broke out into a canter, despite
the heavy snow
Do you think there is any danger.
my dear husband p asked tho baroness
cannot tell said her husband, they
do not seem dispose to attack us vet.
but they arc certainly savage 1t is for
the horses VIC have to fear first
Are they gaining on us p
\ little, but they are not putting out
their speed they could be up with us in
a moment if they liked
Thus the carriage rolled on; for about
five minutes Erick never took his eyes off
the pack, and the baron, thrust himself
out from the lef. hand window, watching
them carefully.
Are your pistols loaded, sir cried
Erick.
All with swan shot
Il have two loaded with ball, and two
with shot, so we shall do
The pack was now not more that ten
yards from the carriage, and there might
be about two hundred in it. At the
head was an old, strong, gray headed
wolf, the leader of the pack They all
came nearer, nearer, till at last with a
fcvcrish howl, the leader sprang Oh one
of the wheel horses and at the same
time received bullet through his head
from Erick, who was prepared for him.
Now, sir said he, if you will let Inc
have piece of string, we may be able to
make something out Of it,
n piece of string = cried his master,
yes, here It is, but to what end p
why, sir, said lie, wolves, like cow
1rdly creatures, as they are, are always
trap, so [ will just tie
stick TO this string, aud let it drag be- /
hind the carriage 1t will keep them off
| dare say ten minutes
Ericl, was right the stick was drag
ged along about the distance of ten yards
behind, and for some time the pack kept
behind it, and were plainly afraid Of it. |
At last they hogan to grow bolder.
and seemed to have discovered the trick.
passed the stick, and were again making
up to the carriage.
They will be upon us in n moment
cried Erick. When l cry, Now, sir be
ready to fire upon them from one side,
and so I will upon the other
Very well, replied the baron. Hell
ena sat with her face in her mothers
hand, looking up to her face. Her
mother looked sad but very calm she
was evidently praying.
Now. sir cried Erick.
Master and servant both fired at the
same moment there was Il savage yell
from the foremost of the fierce pack, and
three or four fell.
Load again cried Erick; If this
lasts, you will want all your pistols
soon
After they had fired once or twice.
the wolves were no longer frightened by
the fire and flash; and they began to
surround the coach on all sides.
There is but one thing left said
Erick, we must cut the traces Of one of
the leaders, and turn him oF-that will
divert them for little while and turn.
ing to the fore boy, he directed him to
cut the traces Of his Of horse.
The man obeyed and the terrified an.
imal started of to the right into the for
est, and with loud yell the whole pack
started after him.
Thank God for that p exclaimed the
baroness. Then we may be safe, after
all
'Ay, madam, if it plcases them re-
piled the servant, but this relief will
not last long. and they will soon be upon
us again
How far do you imagine we are from
the post-housc, now?' eagerly inquired
the baron.
Some half hour answered Erick,
but they will chase us up to the very
doors never knew them moro fierce
Hark they have got him.
As they spoke there came scream
or rather shrek, as Of a person in ag
ony, shrek so horrible in its sound
that once heard, it could never be forgot
ten Helena and her mother cxclaim,
ed tvhnt can IL ba2i