Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-08
A NIGHT AMONG THEwoLvEs.
BY JOHN G. WHITTIER

BY JOHN G. WHITTIER.
Twas night of January, IL. We had
been to fine quilting frolc about two miles
from our settlement of four or five log houses.
Twas rather late, about twelve o'clock,
should say, when the party broke up. There
was no moon, and dull grey shadow of haze
hung around the horizon, while overhead few
pale and sickly looking stars gave us their dull
light as they shoue through a dingy curtain.
There were six of us in company-Harry Ma
son and four as pretty girls as ever grew up
his side of the Green Mountains. There were
my two sisters, and Henry's sisters, and his
etheart, the daughter of our next door
nei ighbor. She was downright handsome
giri-that Caroline Allen. 1 never saw her
equal, though am stranger TO pretty faces.
She WAS SO pleasant and kind of heart-so gen.
tie and sweet spoken, and SO intelligent, be-
sides, that everybody loved her. She had an
eye as blue as the hill violet, and her lips were
Ike red rose leaf in June. No wonder, then,
that Harry Mason loved her-boy though he
vas; for we had neither of US seen our seven
teenth summer.
Our path lay through thick forest of oak,
with here and there tall pine raising its dark
full shadow against the sky with an outline
rendered indistinct by the darkness. The
snow was deep; deeper great deal than it
ever falls of late years; but the surface
frozen strong enough to bear our weight, and
we hurried over the bright pathway with
rapid steps. We had not proceeded far before
a long howl came to our ears. We all knew it
in q moment, and could feel shudder thrill
ling the arms that clung to my own, a sud-
den cry broke from the lips of all, '.the wolves
the wolvesl'
Did you ever see a wild wolf?-not one of
your Gagged, broken-down, show animals, which
are exhibited for sixpence a sight, and chill
dren half price; but fierce, half starved ram
ger of the wintry forest, bowling and hurrying
over The snow, actually mad with hunger.
There is none of Gods creatures which has
such frightful, fiendish look, as this animal.
1t has the form as well rs the spirit of de-
mon.
Another and another howl; and then we
could hear distinctly the quick patter of feet
behind US. We turned right about and look ed
in the direction of the sound. ssThe wolves
are after us,'' said Mason, pointing to line of
dark bodies. And so in fact they were, a
whole troup of them, bowling like so many
Indians in pcw-wow. We had no weapons
OF any kind, and we knew enough of the vile
creatures who followed us to know that il
would be useless to contend with them. There
vas not q moment to lose the savage beasts
were close upon us. The attempt to fight
would have been hopeless affair. There was
aha
seized upon it.
ssTo the tree let us climb this treel''
cried, springing forwards toward long -bough
ed and gnarled oak, which 1 saw at a glance
might be easily climbed.
Harry Mason sprang lightly into the tree
and aided in placing the girls in place o.
comparative safety. among the boughs. 1 wa:
the last the ground, and the whole trouI
were yelling at my heels before l reached the
rest of the company. There was one momen
of hard breathing and wild exclamation among
us, then feeling Of calm thankfulness for oul
escape. The night was cold, and we soon be
gan to shiver and shake, like so many sailors
on the top-mast of an Iceland whaler. Blu
there were no murmurs, no complaining among
as, for we could distinctly see the gaunt, at
tenuated bodies of the wolves beneath US, anG
every now and then we could see great, glow
ing eyes, staring up into the tree where W.
were seated. And then their yells; they wer'
loud, and fierce, and bideous.
know not how long we had remained IL
this situation, for We had no means of ascer
tanning the time, when / heard limb OF I
tree cracking as if breaking down beneatl
the weight of some of us, and moment after
wards shrek went through my ears like th'
piercing of knife. A light form went dow
tbro1gh the naked branches, with dull heav,
Ecund npon the stiff snow.
80. aou / am gonel''
1t was the voice of Caroline Allen. Th
poor girl never spoke again. There was hor
rid dizziness and confusion in my brain, and
-noyra MT end I ctirrad pot Co. A.. u,bo1. n