Polynesian., 1857-01-31
No. 80


ment IN making use Of the discovery most
grateful FIRE famed in the middle of the room
the smoke from which went upwards and found ar
outlet at one Of those openings in the roof which
usually form the chimney in these hunters huts
now breathed more freely. and could look more
calmly upon my sister, who had sat down quietly
/: upon the earthen bank, and was engaged in en-
deaVorlng to restore the fanting lady 's-maid whom
Rosko had placed there when he carried her in
with the help Of some spirits from Rosko's flask.
she at last succeeded, and we all gathered round
the fire, the beneficial effects Of which soon gave us
new life; and whilst we listened to the savag,
growing OF our fearful enemies outside, VIC con-
gratuIated ourselves upon having escaped from
them. The French woman. now that the paralysing
effect of the fear had left her, began to describe
with astonishing yolubility all she had suffered,
ard how she had expected every moment TO see one
oi the monsters spring into the sleigh and swallow
Us ali up. l sat holding Axinia's hand in mIne
and an expression Of unspeakabe joy might be
seen IN the faces Of US both. Old RoskO alone ap-
pcarcd unnovCd at the favor which fate had shown
US he sat looking with gloomy thoughtlulness in
to the rising flames his brow was knit, and from
time to time he shook his head.
/ Suddenly we now heard, resounding from dis
tance, so loud and heart piercing cry of pain,
that we looked at each other in astonshment and
AXlnia crept close TO me, as if for safety had
never heard sound like il before: 1t could be the
the tones Of no human being that pr rced the air
with so much strength, and knew # no animal
the cry Of which It resembled. Il soon ceased
bat the PiteOus complaint the hear piercing dis
tress OF that tone, continued 10 SQUAD IN our ears
Rosko had gone uneasIiy towards the door, and
was looking through crack in il. 1t had
become stIlicr without, AMI it appeared to me that
the growing and bowling of the wolves no longer
sounded 50 directly in our neighborhoOd Old
ROsko came back from the door, and he must have
seen IN the expression f my face an nterroga-
ton as TO the shocking, unnatural tones we had
heard.
Poor Alexander! all is over with him The
young beast was full of Courage and fire, and no
doubt fought his blood thirsty enemies bravey
with his hOOis but he was obliged to give way,.
the number being too great for him. Yes, sir"
continued he, that dreadful cry announced to Us
the death of your favOrite horse. ] have heard.
this tone, which pierces to the very soul, on the
field OF battle. 1t Is peculiar TO strong, young
horses, which part hardly with their life, and
struggle with death to the last moment will lay
any wager II went easier with Cynthia she was
weaker than Alexander, and older too. But this
much Is certain, that the poor animals have become
prey TO the wolves, which are at this moment
engaged in devouring them, and therefore leave
us In peace. At this moment, there are but few
of them about the hut; the great mass are engag-
cd IN their horrid meal. They will soon return,
however, more ravenOusy hungry and more blood
thirsty than ever; for this slight repast is sutf-
cIent only to stimulate their nsatlable appe-
tites.''
The old man had spoken truly We sat STILL.
ard rs If waiting round the fire; and few mo-
rents only had passed when we again heard the
feet and the painting of the wolves close outside;
then they came bursting against the door and the
window-shutters; then the growing became loud
er, and We could find that, with newly excited
rage, they were trying to climb up the door-pcsts
and the mud wall in order 10 get upon the roof
n Tof Tho o1yiorr
eyes were fixed on the opening in the roof just
above Us, through which, when 4 puff of wind
parted the cloud Of smoke which went up from
our fire. the star-Iit heavens looked brightly down
upon Us. \ fresh column Of smoke was just aboul
20 twirl upwards, when the lady's maid uttered a
loud shrek, and, pointing TO the roof, fell speech
less on the ground. A fearful sight was before
rs. -Four wolves heads, with bloody jaws, and
their tongues hanging cut, showing their white
rows Of savage teeth were ranged round the edge
Of the opening, and looking down, with glowing.
eyes, into the flames beneath. Seen through
the smoke as We saw them, they looked like de-
mons. At this unexpected sight, only Rosko re-
tanned his presence of mind. He threw fagot
into the fire, saying: 50 We have nothing to fear
from these four they do not like fire; it dazzies
them. and they will not be able to see u.s. But
suddenly there came loud crash in the weak raft
cs Of the roof; three Of the monsters disappeared,
but The TOJt gave way under the fourth, and hung
II
ored IN vain 10 cling TO the ratjers which kept
breaking round it. It was very evident that 1t
must soon fall into the flames beneath.
. Away fIOm the fire ~ cried old ROskO 10 the
two females, who, terrified. fed into a corner.
Then he turned to me and said :: Now shoot! send
pistol ball into the fellows body; take good
aInl--ht sure. -
lie seized the gun himself, and stood by with il
ready to strike blow with the stock. We heard
the creature groanng with fear. It was "f unus-
ual aud fearful size. | obcvcd mechanic the
command Of the old servant. | took true aim.
fired, and at the instant the animal fell into
the burning pile Of wood beneath, from which flew
all sides frebrands. burning Goals, and sparks.
[ started back from the flames: but there lay our
enemy bleeding, and rolling Itself amongst the
frebands, bowling horribly and Piteously with pain.
r. skO kept his place cOuageouSly; and after hav-
ing raised the stock Of the gun once or twice over
his head. and brought it down gain each time with
heavy blow, there lay the beast dead before us,
lis limbs stretched out stiff fIom lis body amongst
the burning wood, which, being all wetted with it's
blood, gave forth smothering steam. Rosko, who
had always his wits about him, pulled IL out of the
fire, and dragged it into the furthest corner where
he left it lying, saying OF the same time that he
hoped it would be the only visit Of the kind We
should have during the night :" but the day, the
day" added he, in 4 low tone of voice, - will.
bring Us more Of such customers than VIC shall be
able 10 MASTER
These words had reached my ears only Axinia
and the Freuchwoman looked anxiously up at the
roof to see whetherany fresh danger threatened US.
I drew near TO the old man, and led him far away
from Axinia towards the dead wolf, as if | wished
to examine it; and then asked him, in an UNDER
voice, what the fears he entertained for the
day, as l had been in hopes that, when morning
came, the wolves would orsake our place of refugee
and betake themselves to the depths Cf the forest
And even if that were to be the case" said he