Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-08-13

hanging out; and 1 could see theil
savage, fiery eyes. And what multi
tude was there of them ! My last charge
was expended, and L now possessed ne
means of defence against an attack oI
the furious animals except my two pis
tolls, which had not yet been fired off
my hunting knife and the~but end Of
my rifle. This Rosko had remarked
There is still one hope left" said
he; " remember to havo seen, on ou1
way here, an uninhabited hunters hut,
which cannot now be far off. If we can
succeed in reaching it we are safe for
the present if not, the wolves will tear
us to pieces and relieve their fierce hun
ger with our flesh If it comes to that,
SIR continued he, with trembling
voice, then you have still the loaded
pistols-thcn be compassionate and give
your sister speedy death, that she
may not die by inches under the teeth
of the wolves -
started in speechless silence at the
without speaking he looked at me and
nodded his head as if by that means
too add force to what he had said. Never
shall L forget that moment shuddcr
ran through my veins as [ looked into
the innocent face of my sister; L turned
my eyes in desperation toward heaven +;
it seemed to me that deliverance ought
to come and must come from above to
that pious being who forgot all earthly
dangers in her resignation to the will
of the Almighty, Then the painting and
trampling came closer to us, and l saw
the foremost of the creatures had reached
us and that they seemed to be smelling
our carriage as if they wished to see
first of what the freight consisted before
they made the attack With my left
hand | seized the ready cooked pistol
and with searching glance [ looked at
the head of my sister i'll order to select
that part where death would reach her
the surest and quickest. My right hand
had mechanically drawn my hunting
knife. A veil of blood appeared to be
drawn over my sight, and through the
blood beheld the praying Axinia, the
hungry wolves and the wild waste of
snow. Then one of the creatures got
nearer to our sleigh; it gave fearful
spring to clear lis side, but my hunting
k nife caught it in the fianks as it sprang.
and it fell before it reached us. Axinia
had sunk in terror by the side of the
lady's maid, who had long since been
covering il the bottom Of the sleigh.
Well done!'' cried Rosko, with all
the spirit of young man. "Spare
your powder and use your knife.
can see the hut now. Hold out a little
ienger, and then we shall be secure.
Then the bloody veil fell from before
my eyes, and became light again within
me and around. Rosko foggcd the
horses unmcrcifully, and once more the
faithful beasts made incredible cxertions.
1t seemed as if they felt that this was
the last piece of service they should
ever render their masters, and were
therefore willing to put forth their last
strength. In the meantime l had put
the pistol in my breast pocket, and
stood upright, with the gunstock held
in my hand ready to strike. Whether
it was that this threatening attitude
made an impression on our pur;ucrS, or
whether the accelerated speed Of our
horses was the cause, l know not, but
so it was that VIC began to leave the
savage monsters bch;nl. anl We gained
, slight, but i'll our situation, inyalu
able advantage over them. | looked
around ne There stood the hut; the
loor was open, and Rosb0gave cry Of
10y, as with his powerful hand he drew
up the horses, and then sprang from
his scat, saying:
awe are here we are here
Quickly out and into the hut; there's
not moment to be lostI'
But already had Axinia, with Won
lcrful energy, sprung out of the sleigh |
md into the hut Rosko followed her |
the fainting lady's maid
vas the last. AS | was going in tie
Did man snatchcd the gun out of my
hand, and rushed out again / looked |
lftcr him in astonishment; [ saw that |
The wolves were coming up in enormous
numbers, and [ knew that they would
be up with us in minute or two. l !
called after him to como back, but his |
work was alrcadSadonc with two cuts of
the whip he had set the horses of again
INTO tull gallop, and had got back just
Is two of the savage beasts made n |
spring towards the hut. With two blows
Of the butt of the gun he struck them
both down, and then was by my side
again and ust us the foremost of the |
pack reached the hut. and would have |
pressed in, VIC rushed to the oakcn door,
and boltcd it with the iron bolt, which |
providcntially, we found still there
[ should in vain cndcavor to describe
the feelings [ experienced at that mo-
mcnt. Many years have passed away
since that time; [ have gone through |
much that was calculated to try the soul |
but never had [ feelings equal to those.
The purest JOY at the deiivcrance of my
sister took possession of me, and with it
The feeling that [ had sinncd against
he greatness and goodness of the
Almighty. Ifelt the utmost contrition;
dared not speak to Axinia, whose CON
idence in Heaven had never for one
moment forsaken her, and who, at this
and with steady voice, was
offering thanks for her merciful deliver
lnce. The snuffling and rattlinr of the
wolves at the door reused me from the
rain of thoughts into which [ had fall
N. Rosko had had the presence Of =