New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-03-28

sister in order to select that part where death would
reach her the surest and Quickest My right hand
had mechanically drawn my hunting knife. A vail
through the blood beheld the praying Axinia, the
hungry wolves and the wide waste Of snow. Then
one of the creatures got nearer to sleigh gave
frghtful spring to clear its side, but my hunting
knife caught it in the tanks as it sprang ana u ien
dead before it reached u.s. Axinia had sunk in terror
by the side Of the ladys maid, who had long since
been covering in the bottom of the sleigh,
"Wel done' cried Rosko to me, with oil me spirit
Of young man. Spare your powder ana use your
knife. can see the hut now Hold out little Ion
ger, and then we shall be secure"
Then the bloody vail fell from before my eyes and 1t
became light again within me and around. Rosko
logged the horses numerically, and once more the
faithful beasts made ncredloie exertons. ~ seemed
thew shod ever render their masters and were there
fore willing to put forth their last strength In the
meantime had put the pistol in my breast pocket,
and stood upright with the gunstock held IN my hand
ready to strike Whether it that this threatening
attitude made an impression on our pursuers or
whether the accelerated speed of horses the
cause, know not, but so it was that we began to
leave the savage monsters little behind, and we
tage over them. looked around me. There stood
the hut the door was open, and Rosko gave cry of
Joy as with his powerful hand he drew up the horses
and then sprang from his seat, saying:
T." we are nere-We are mere quickly out, anu lnLO
the hut; there's not a moment to be lost'
But already had Axina, with wonderful energy,
sprung out Of the sleigh and into the hut Rosko fol
lowed her, carrying the sainting lady's-maid was
the last AS was going in, the old man snatched the
gun out of my hand, and rushed out again. looked
after him in establishment saw that the wolves were
coming up in ENORMOUS numbers and knew that they
would be up with us in minute or two. called after
him to come back, but his work was already done !;
with two cuts of the whip he had set the horses off
;pko f.l1I haH ont bacE inst
two of the savage beasts made spring towards the
hut. With two blows of the butt end OF the gun he
struck them both down, and then was by my side
again. and Just as the foremost of the pack reached
the hut and would have pressed in, rushed to the
strong oaken door, and boted it with the iron bolt,
which, providentiay, we found still there. tl .
should in vain endeayor to describe the feelings
experienced at that moment. Many years have passed
was calculated to try the soul but never had feel
ngs equal to these The purest joy at the deverance
of my sister took possession Of me, and with it the
feeling that had sinned against the greatness and
goodness of the Almighty. felt the utmost c0ntri-
ton !; I dared not speak to Axinia whose confidence
in Heaven had never for one moment forsaken her,
and who at this moment, and with steady voice,
was offering thanks for her mercul delyerance. The
snuing and rafting of the wolves at the door reused
me from the train of thought into which had fallen.
Rosko had had the presence of mind, when he ran
back to set the horses off, and thereby give them the
chance of saving themselves, to snatch the lantern
from the sleigh and bring it with him into the hut.
We now began to examine the Interior to see whether
we were in safety; and as we did we heard the low
growing of the wolves, who continued jumping
against the door, and climbing up against the window;
but fortunately the windows were fastened with very
strong shutters Mud walls surrounded u.s. and bank
o. earth was built against sde little halfrotten
straw lay in corner, and by the side Of it lay an in
valuable treasure, heap of rewood sufficient in all
probability to save us, during four-andweny hours
from the severity of the frost The old servant lost
grateful fire soon famed in the middle of the room,
the smoke from which went upward and found an
outlet at one Of those openings in the roof which
usually form the chimney in these hunters, huts.
Inow breathed more freely, and could look more
calmly upon my sister, who had sat down quietly
upon the earthen bank and was engaged in endeavor
ing to restore the fainting lady'smaid, whom Rosko
had placed there when he carried her in. With the
help of some spirit from Roskos flask, she at last sue.
ceeded; and we all gathered round the fire. the bene
fetal effects Of which gave us neville; aud while
we listened to the savage growing OF our fearful en-
emies outside congratulated ourselves upon having
escaped them. The French woman, now that the
paralyzng effect of the fear had left her. began to de-
SCRIBE with astonishing volubility, all she had sut
fered and how she expected every moment to one
OF the monsters spring into the sleghand swallow
all up. sat holding Axinia's hand in mine and an
expression of unspeakable joy might be seen in the
faces of us both. Old Rosko alone appeared unmoyed
at the favor which fate had shown us he sat looking
with gloomy thoughtfulness into the rising flames
his brow was knit, and from time to time he shook
his head. Suddenly we now heard resembling from
distance SO loud and heart-piercing cry of pain,
that we looked at each other in establishment, and
Axnia crept close to as if for safety. had never
heard sound like it before could be the tones of
no human being that pierced the air with SO much
strength, and knew OF no animal the cry OF which
it resembled. 1t soon ceased but the piteous COM
plant, the heartpiercng distress of that tone,
tinued to sound in ears. Rosko had gone uneasy
towards the door, and was looking through crack in
it. 1t had now become stiller without, and it ap-
peared to me that the growing and bowling of the
wolves no longer sounded so directly in our neighbor
hood. Old Rosko came back from the door, and he
must have seen in the expression of my face an in
terogation 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 bloodthirsty enemies bravey with his hoofs but
he was obliged to give way the numbers were too
great for him. Yes sir" continued he that dread
horse. l have heard this tone which perces 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 that it went easier with Cynthia
she was weaker than Alexander, and older too. But
this much is certain that the poor animals have be-
come prey to the wolves, which are at this moment
deyouring Them and therefore leave us in peace At
this moment there are but few of them about the hut
the great mass are engaged in their horrid meal.
They will soon return, however, more rayenously
hungry and more blood thirsty than ever, for this
slight repast is sufficient only to stimulate their nsa
table appetitesp
The old man had spoken truly. We sat still, and
as if waiting round the fire; and few moments
only had passed when again heard the feet and the
painting of the wolves close outsde then they came
bursting against the door and window shutters ther
| the growing became louder; and we could find that
with newly excited rage, they were trying to ciml
up the door posts and the mud-wals in order to ge
| upon the roof We were in the most anxious sus
| pense. Our eyes were fixed on the opening in thu
roof just above US, through which, when a puff o
wind parted the cloud of smoke which went up from
our fire, the star-lit heavens looked brightly dow
| upon us. A fresh column of smoke was just about t.
| twirl upward, when the lady's maid uttered a lou
shrek, and pointing with her finger to the roof, fe
speeches. on the ground fearful sight was befor
us -Four wolves heads with bloody jaws, and thei
| tongues hanging ont, showing their white rows G
savage teeth, were ranged round the edge of til
opening, aud looking down, with glowing eyes, int
the flames beneath. Seen through the smoke as W
saw them, they looked like demonds. AT this unel
pccted sight, only Rosko retained his presence {
mind. He threw tagot into the fire, saying W
have nothing to fear from these four ; they do nc
like fire it dazzles them and they will not be abb
to see u.s." But suddenly there came loud crash i
the weak rafters of the roof three of the monster
and hung down within the cabin, while the creatur
endeavored in vain to cling to the rafters which KEY
breaking round it. 1t was very evident that it mus
soon fall into the flames beneath.
"Away from the iire." cried old Rosko to the tw
females who, terrified, fled into a corner. Then i
turned to me and said Now, shootl Send pist
hail jnto the fellows body take a good ain-h