The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-07-07

But she nestled close to my side, and talk
ed with less glee. In spite of all my ef-
forts, shadow would creep over my own
spirits.
The road wound among dense growth
Of pines, which shot upwards and yelled
even the sky from our path. The old
pines swayed and moaned in the increas-
ing storm, and the snow fell fast and thick.
touched the horse with the whip and
moved quickly through the wood. Again
Carry grasped my arm. / heard nothing
but the storm, and yet / was startled as
the horse gave snort and struck into a
gallop. With heart of happiness, had
not yet dreamed of any danger. Again
the horse snorted in alarm. There was
no sound above the storm. I felt my
cheek grow white and cold, and / felt the
blood run quick back to my heart.
Clear, wild. terrible, 1t burst out in an
unearthly howl, like wall from world
of fiends. heard it. Its dismal, heart
chilling echoes had not died away on the
storm, when it was answered from score
of throats.
Merciful God! pack of wolves were
around us. In those dark woods at night
and the storm bowling overheard, score
of threats were fiercely yelling each other
on to the feast. For moment my senses
recled. But felt Garry leaning heavily
upon my shoulder, and aroused.
But what hope was there? I had no
|vvn he -,
our path before and behind US. There
was but one chance. and thae was to push
ahead.
There was a slim chance, and I grew
sick as thought of Garry. The quiet
cabin and happy hearth at home. flashed
swiftly through my brain. At that mo-
ment dark shadow glided up by the side
of our sleigh, and so wild and deviiish a
yell l never heard. My flesh crawled on
my bones; cold shiver ran to my heart,
and crept over my head, as though the
hairs were standing on end. Two orbs
glared out like demon lights. and could
hear the painting of the eager beasts.
Finally grasping the lines and shouting
sharply to the horse. we shot away.
The horse needed no urging. At the
act, that Internal chorus again burst out
in earnest, anu their dark forms leapcd in
heightened strides on either side of u.s.
TIE speed was fearful. and yet the yelling
devils kept pace. Turning to speak to
Garry, / cav dark form leap into the
path. and as We sped ahead, his teeth shut
with vice-like snap. missing Garry and
stripping her shawl from her shoulder
With shrek she clung to me, and with
my arm saved her from being dragged
out of her seat
/ became maddened, reckless.
shouted to the horse, now reeking with
foam.
We went on at fearful rate. The
stumps and roots and uneven places in
the road. threatened at every instant to
wreck our sleigh.
Home was three miles distant. o, for
world to give her home! As the road
struck the river bank, it turned shortly
on the brink of fearful precipice, Here
there was new danger not only of up.
setting but of being hurled into the riv-
er.
There was path across this angle Of
land where logs had been hauled out, /
was mile nearer this way to clearing
than by the river; but burst not attempt
it wi,ha sleigh.
On we sped. That fearfnl pack neck
and neck with US, and every now and then
jaws shutting like steel traps close to our
persons Once around that angle, and
hoped. How madly / shouted to the
noble brute. We neared the turn in that
race FOR life.
Heavensi the internal devils had cross.
ed ahead, and hung in dark masses. A
demon instinct seemed to possess them.
A few moments morel The wolves
seemed to feel that we had bad chance
for they howled more devilish than ever.
With sweep the horse turned in spite
Of me. The left runner struck high on
the roots Of pine, and the sleigh swung
over like fash, burying us in the new
srow Away sped the horse. aud my
heart sunk as / heard his quick footsteps
dying out toward home.
The maddened pack had followed the
horse, and shot by Us number of rods as
We were thrown ont upon the bank. A
shrek from Garry arrested them in their
career; in an instant they we're upon us.
I gave one long desperate shout in the
hope of arousing the folks in the cab
ins. l had no time to- shout again; hot
breath burned upon me. and the dark
masses gathered around like shadows of
doom.
With broken limb, wildly kept them
ct bay for moment, cut 6ercer aud clo-
er urged the gnashing teeth. Garry lay
insensible on the ground before me. There
xss one more chance. A stunted pine
grew upon the outer edge of the bank,
and shot ont nearly horizontally over the
river below full hundred feet from the
surface,
| Dashing madly in their teeth with my
cudgel, yelled with the waning energy
of despair. graspiug Garry with one arm,
Il