True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-17
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY H. 1868,


howl, like a wall from the
world of fends. heard it its dismal
leart chilling echoes had not died away
IN the storm, when it was answered by
score Of throats.
Merciful God! a pack of wolves were
lround US! In those dark woods, al
light, and the stolm bowling overhead,
. score Of hungry lhroa's were fercely
reling each other on to tie feast.
For moment my senses reeled, but
'elt Carrie leaning heavily upon my shoul'
Ter, and aroused.
But what hope was there | had no
weapon, and the maddened devils were
in the path before and behind us. There
was hut one chance, and that Was to push
ahead.
That was a slim chance, and | grew
sick as 1 thought of Carrie. The quiet
cabin, and the happy hearth at home,
fash swiftly through my brain.
At that moment a dark shadow gllded
up by the side of the sleigh, and so wild
and deviish a yell l have never heard
since. My flesh crawled on my bones
A cold shiver ran 10 the heart and crept
over the head, as though the hairs were
standing on end. Two orbs glared out
like demon-lights and | could hear the
painting of the eager beast. ....-
Firmly graspiug the lines, and shouting
sharply to the horse, we shot away.
The horse needed no urging. At the
act, that internal chorus again broke out
in earnest, and their dark forms leaped IN
heightened strides on either side of US
The speed was fearful, and vet the yelling
devils kept pace, Turning to speak 10
Carrie, | saw dark form leap into the
path, and as we sped ahead, his teeth shut
with vice like snap, missing Carrie, but
stripping her shawl from her shoulders.
With shrek she clung to me, and with
my arm | saved her from being dragged
out of the seat.
Oh God 1t was horrible We were
to be ealen alive ... .......
became maddened-reckless. shou-
ted to the horse, now reekng with foam,
and went at fearful rate. The stumps,
aud roots, and uneven places in the road,
threatened every instant to wreck our
sleigh. ..... ......
Home was three miles ahead o, for
world 10 give for home!
As the road struck the river bank, il
turned shortly almos. on the brink of a
fearful precipice. Here was new dan
ger F; it was a difficult place, and not on
ly danger of upsetting, but of being hurl'
ed into the river.
There was path across this angle ol
land where logs had been drawn out; il
was "A mile nearer this way TO the clear
ing, than by the river. but burst not at
tempt it with sleigh. On we sped
that internal pack, neck and neck with us
and every now and then, jaws shutting
like steel-raps close to our PERSONS
Once around that angle and | hoped =!
How madly shouted to the nobl
brute as we neared the turn in that rac'
for life.
Oh Heaven! The internal devils ha
crossed ahead and hung in dark masse
in the path. A demon instinct seemed
to possess them. A few rods more J..
The wolves seemed to feel that we had
chance, for they howled more DEVILS
than ever.
With a swoop, the horse turned j
spite of me the left runner struck hig
on the roots of pine, and the sleig
swung over like fash, burying us il
the new snow. Away sped the hors,
and my heart sank as heard his quic
footsteps dying out towards home.
Bnt | had no time to think in truth
can remember nothing distinctly; it a
seemed a nightmare which never ca
forget.
The maddened pack followed the hors
and shot past us as we were thrown OF
upon the bank, for q number Of rods
A shrek from Carrie arrested them
3 their career, an in an instunt they we
, upon US. gave one long, despera
shout, in hopes Of arousing the folks al Il
/ cabins. had no time 10 shout again.
Their hot breath burned upon me, al
l their dark masses gathered around Ill
the shadows of doom. With a brok
r limb wildly kept them at bay for m
ment but fetcer, closer, surged d
i gnashing teeth. Carrie lay insensible
v the ground before me. There was o
more chance. A stunled pine grew up
b the outer edge of the bank and shot c
d nearly horizontally over the river belo
d full hundred feet from the surface.
). Dashing madly in the teeth Of the pa
d with my cudgeI, yelled with the wa
le ing energy OF despair, grasPed Car
le with one arm, and dashed reckIessly (
upon the pine. | thought not of
ID danger-I cared not. l Ibraved one d,
az ger 10 escape greater. / reached
I, branches and breathed (reer as he
rt the fierce growl Of the baffled pack.
I'd l turned my head, and God Of mer,
long shadow was gliding along
= trunk 10 our last refuge. Carrie ,
I'D helpless, and it required all the siren
he Of intense despair to hold her, and rem
rt. upon the slippery trunk. ! turned tori
| n y -. i. - L r ...L.