Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-06-29

cu ssmen are always SO Stuplu anu
ssHa, ha ~ burst out Dan, the eldest OF the
six, .sKate's fingers are all thumbs lately.'
ssHer wits are going wool gathering or
rather flower gatherings" chimed in another,
sever since Joe, the miller's handsome son,
brought the last load of flour to the house,
and it took him and Kate all afternoon to put
six bags in the buttery.''
don't mind those unlocked cubs. You have
more pluck than them all, broad as their shoul-
ders are.''
skate wants little maple sugar to sweeten
her temper,'' said Dan. .'Pity it is so early
in the season.
cit is plain you didn't need any of the sap,'
retOrted Kate, Eswhen you lett the dipper
down in the bush tonight
81 can't say how that is, anwered Dan,
ssbut with all your pluck, you darent go and
fetch it.''
81 dare and WILL" answered Kate, now thor
oughly aroused.
ssWhy, Kate, you are crazy said her fa-
ther. sits more than a quarter of a mile
from here, and the wolves are bowling more
than common tonight
ssI don't care,' answered Kate, ssGo l will:
and bring back the dipper, too; and then we
viii see who has the most pluck.''
In spite of the remonstranceS of her father
and the entreaties of the horror stricken Alick
to be permitted at least to accompany her, the
headstrong girl persisted in going, and, put
ting on her shawl, hurried down the garden
path, and was quickly lost to sight in the for
est. 1t was chilly evening, and the halo that
encircled the moon, and the driving clouds
that not unfrequently obscured her broad disc
told of a coming storm. a light snow cover
ed the ground, relieved here and there by oc-
casional black patches of mud, and, as it crack
led under her feet, Kate would start involunta-
riy, and look hastily around, fancying the
tread of some wild animal. In the ghostly
light, the trees seemed to stretch up to great
er height, and their gnarled branches took
strange, fantastic shapes. Dark clumps of
bushes seemed to her disturbed imagination
crouching figures, ready to spring upon her,
and not uafrequently she paused and held her
breath, thinking she saw the glare of eye balls
in the thicket, or heard the sound of stealthy
breathing close beside her. Then, chiding
herself for weakness, she would hurry on, till
at length the tall slender boles of the maple
trees defined themselves against the sky, and
seizing the dipper. with q sigh of relief, she
turned on her homeward path. She might
have advanced ten steps, when her heart gave
a bound that seemed to send it to her throat,
and then almost ceased to beat, she stood
listening with such intensity that her very
breathing seemed suspended. Was that the
wind moaning through the branches Nearer
and nearer came the long, low, melancholy
sound, and then she knew she had to run for
her llfe for she had recognized the howl of
wolves and was sure they were already on
her track.
Kate was courageous girl, and swift-footed
as antelope !; but when the yelling pack
burst from the bushes into view, and glancing
over her shoulders she ran, she saw them
bounding after her, their heads outstretched,
their red tongues lolling from their open
mouths, swapping, growing, and leaping mad
ly up. thrsting and raging for her blood, a
sickening terror took possession OF her. Should
her limbs fail her even for an instant, should
she stumble and fall, she would inevitably be
dragged down and torn to pieces by these raw
enous monsters. Horrible ! to have her flesh
rent from her bones and nothing left but a
bleaching skeleton to tell of her sad fate. On
they came, close to her heels almost catching
and rending her dress as it flew out in their
grinding teeth, their yelling, savage voices
ever sounding nearer and nearer. Now out
of the forest and down the garden path, but
her limbs were tagging, and closer and closer
came the hurried painting breaths. She reach
ed the garden gate, the house was close before
her; but at her shoulder leaped and howled
the foremost of the pack, his hot breath on
her cheek, and his low growl sounding in her
ears when suddenly out rushed seven stalwart
figures, shouting and waving flaming brands
around their heads they came. Panic
stricken, the wolves secured back to the for
est, and the half fainting girl was conducted,
or rather borne into the cabin, where she soon
recovered from the more Immediate effects of
her fright.
Shortly after, Alick and Kate agreed to u
mite their fortunes for life, and frequently
talked of their former mishaps, and Kate S
courage; but to her dying day, she could
never speak without shudder of her moon
light race with the poires.