Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-12-25

he was, and in jitf I pulled away at him.
Louder than the storm, and thousand times
more awful, that same yell rung through the
woods, and was answered back fr"m over
the river. It sounded like some devil laugh
ing and yelling, and then away down the
stream, there was wall like child's, grow
ing fainter and fainter, and we heard it no
more. Jed Williams and both called for
Mary, long time, but no answer. We took
our boat and went up and down, but could
not see or hear anything. We looked for a
trail on the opposite bank, but found moth
ing but wolf trail. As Jed stepped on
shore, there was an awful swapping and snar-
ling, and then howls, and as I live, they
pitched into him. He gave one quick call
for help, and tEcn heard that strangers
yell, and in the blaze of a flash of lightning,
as plain as now see that fire, there stood a
monstrous great wolf, as black as jet but his
face pas the Strangers! / made lunge
at him with my knife, and knew no more.
The sweat stood in great drops upon the
Trappers brow at this part of his story, and
we noticed that his fingers shut couvulsively
upon his ride barrel.
81 laid there till morning." continued the
old man, "cold, and drcnched in the storm.
1t all seemed just like dream at first, but
it come to me slowly, and reused up and
took look at things.
at made no sick at the heart that look
for there was the bones Of Jed Williams,
and hisrihe by the side of them. The cussed
devils had picked 'em-as brave man as
ever drew a bead-killed Ikea dog Iwish-
ed they had killed me, too, and why they
did mt can't tell. I've sometimes thought
there was Providence in it, and that l should
meet the stranger yet. Irechon l shaW"
AS the hunter said this, he clenchcd his
teeth, and his eyes glared like madman's.
"Well, boys, after that night, my hair was
as white as foam, and | crowd old mighty
quick. I hunted the woods all over for
many week, and all up and down the riv-
er, but found nothing Of Mary Williams. l
went back to our camp, aud in about three
weeks, what should l see one evening u the
water near the cove where I saw Mary with
the stranger first, but something like hu-
man person. On pulling it out, great God,
it was Mary Williams Her black hair was
swimming with the current, and her face
was turned upward. took her gently up
the bank. and laid her all dripping on the
leaves. All night, boys, | sat and talked to
Mary-it didn't sccm as though she could
die But she was dead, and I hunted up
the pretticst spot on the hill, and buried her
alone. The wild vines and flowers are all
over her grave, now, and [ 60 there every
fall, and watch by it all night. What is
strange, like all the rest of the cusscd works,
the night | buried Mary, l heard that same
internal yell, and knew the stranger was
around. roa bothered to make up my
mind whether he was man. wolf, or devil,
but at any rate, l piled great stones on Mary's
grave to make al! sure. I&haN meet that
stranger yct..'
The Trapper pulled his knife from his
belt and felt It's edge to the point, and then
primed his rife anew. We could not help
being little surprised at his manncr-his
actions indicating that he was expecting his
dreaded antagonist soon. And strange as
it seemed, 1T that moment there was voice
on the river and the measured dip of oars
A momen. more, and the word "Nary! - in
gentle tones, came up like sigh.
Well alllookel at the Tnppcr. An ashy
palencss had crept over his swarthy features,
his shaggy brow had dropped, his eye gilt
tered with intense hate, and his teeth were
closed like a vice The old man Was ter
rble 10 look upon. Muttering between his
clenched teeth, he slowly arose and turned
his ear towards the river. At the moment
there was a football on the bank, and as plain
ly and distinctly as We ever saw star in the
night, there were two eyes of fire, glowing
with supernatural light, and steadily advanc-
ing towards the camp. The rest Of the boys
must have seen the same, for they, by a
common impulse, rctreated behind the fire,
and raised their rifles
ella, ha, ha!" came in mocking tones
from the direction Of the fiery eyes. We
heard t-all heard it.
And the. Old Trappcr heard it, fur in tones
not less startling and husky, he answered
laugh for laugh, and s:cadi y advanced. His
cap was off, and his thin locks lifted in the
gusts Of wind.
Another moment, and tie Trappe, S rifle
blazed in the darkness, and its sharp report
rung out in the night. With its last echoes,
there went up one of the most wild, piercing,
demoniac yells, we ever listened to, before
or since. 1t was enough to freeze mans
blood at the fountain, and throbbed like mol
ten nightmare, through and through every
vein.
The old Trappcr answered back the yell
and rushed towards the river. For few
moments, there were terrible sounds of NOR
tai strife, with smothcred ycllS, 4 swapping o.
} teeth, and literal growls. In 4 few moment:
there Was stiffness, only to be broken by
wells more deyilish than ever. All was still
again, but not one of US returned to tic spot
We called the old Trapper, but he lid no
answer.
In the morning there Was sight to star
tie the most reckless of our band. Side by
side, and stretched at full length upon tht
bloody ground, was the body of the OLE