The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-12-28


the light of my young life. and came with
me to this Territory when the world was
bright with hope. I left her in the cabin
one day, and went to my work as usual
She crossed the valley and came to where
I was working. Wishing to fell the tree
I was at work upon. / urged her to cross
the log over the creek before dark, and /
would Immediately follow her. She had
not been gone but little time, when
there burst up between me and our cabin
tha. long, freezing sound, the howl of
wolf; it was answered as if from thou
sand throats up and down the valley, until
one wild. startling, unearthly howl swelled
on the still evening air. God. how that
howl went to the soul! reeled in utter
weakness a moment but soon rallied, and
with the speed and energy of despair,
rushed down the path. I had reached the
stream, and was upon the old trunk thrown
across, when another and different sound
reached my ears. 1t seemed that my
brain would turn into ashes under the fiery
heat, and my heart burst from my bosom
That was the cry of my wife-a clear,
wailing shrek of mental agony s
Blair dropped his head and thurst his
fingers into his ears, as if that terrible
sound was again ringing through the for
est. A moment, and he hurriedly re-
sumed: S8e 81
II remembered no more until the morn
ing broke, ana the sun smiled through
the trees upon that terrible scene. 1t was
horribel The ground was torn and stain.
ed with dark spots, where pools of blood
had sunk away. Seven long black bodies
lay around gashed by the AK, some of
them glariug 6ercely as they fell. their
! tongues thrust out, and the white fangs
cleaning fearfully in their open jaws.
The ak itself lay within reach, rec with
blopd its entire length My own arms
were also stained, and still damp. But
God of mercyl worse sight than all
this met,my gaze of returning conscious
ness. Tightly ir my arms l was holding
the head of my wife, her form bare and
torn into shreds.'
The old man sobbed convulsively, and
rung his hands until it seemed that the
blood would start from his fingers,
."Coming!" lEe .asg !;
Again, and nearer than before, the dis.
NAL howl rose above the storm The
camp fire burnt dimly in the binding
storm of snow, and sense Of loneliness
and terror came over the spirit darker
than the sky overhead
"Here, take this" said Blair, as ht
handed me the locket. "and, if you sur
viye, carry it to -, New York, and
will thank you. Boy, am not afraid t.
die. Death will be rest, and I shall Sc,
1 Maria. We must take TO the tree. 1t i
freeze, or death by the wolves. Quick
e boy! Good-by."
= ! felt the hot tears drop on my hand q
the old man pressed his quivering lip
: upon it, and then pushed on toward tn
trees. v,Is .f,,, g..,
q We had need to be quick, for we ha
. hardly reached the branches when scor
;, Of long, gloomy shadows shot out of th
:. surrounding darkness, and sent up ye
= which went to the heart colder than th
e breath of the wintery blast. They pal
Is but little attention to the dim fire; an6
;. scenting their prey, gathered in shad
y owy circle beneath us. rs5f s.s
y clash yourself fast, boy, and commen
i your soul to God, for you will freeze, an
better to rot ON the oak than to be tor
by the devils.' s'e - az -s
. "It's no use." he continued, as sus
!, gested the sound of our guns might reac
u the inmates OF the cabin, "they would ne
l. hear 'em in the storm; and besides, swes
II by the living God that I will send SON
of them to h-ll before / die," ,sfi.,
~ Blair commenced his deadly work, an
., as one OF the wolves fell the others fougl
% and saarlec, and gnashed their teeth ov,
1.-THE horrid feast Their teeth seunde
~ like the shifting of steel upon steel. Sti
as they howled more fiercely as the slaught
" went on.
u "My gun is wet, and will not go,
y heard Blair mutter with "a curse
nc "Damn 'em, III try them with the AK"
~ My wildly uttered warning was too lat
" for, as it swclled above the sounds belo'
,Ewith unnatural strength Blair leaped dow
W with shout of rage aud defiance, al
with his ak and knife fought the pa,
81 face to face. t
:g / grew sick at heart as I watched wi
's, burning eye-balls the struggle throul
ho the darkness l could see the dark forr
swarming around the trunk, where Biz
Ut had backed up. After the first howl
ioy. as it seemed to me. when Blair INN