The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-26
SAINT PAUL, THURSDAY, MAY a6 1859

lie was so laGie that he had to crawl on his
hands and knees when he fetched hes supply
of water his head swan; bis memory failed
him, and he dared not close his eyes by
night for fear Of the wolves Maddened by
hunger, they came nearer and nearer to him.
Howling and yelling their circed round and
round the tent, closer and closer, at the close
OF every day. One night he heard the snow
outside cracking under their feet; the next
he saw the teeth of one Of them appear
through the leather side of his tent. lie
could only scare them away by firing at
them in the darkness but they returned to
the attack in few hours. and they left him
no chance Of sleep till the broad daylight
drove them back to their lairs.
lie was just strong enough on the ninth
day to make the ninth notch in the pole Of
the tent. On the tenth he Was p0weress.
His courage gave way, and he despaircd, for
the first time, OF rescue. lie had mcdi-
cine chest with him, which he had already
used, containing small bottle Of audanum
and case OF quinine. Without forming
any distinct resolution. without well know
ing what he did, he put the laudanum bottle
to his lips, and almost emptied it. A deep
swoon followed the draught; he remembered
taking it, aud remembered nothing more.
When he came to himself again it was
pitch dark, and his tent poles were rocking
in q gale Of wind. Thirst, aud, in a lesser
degree, hunger, were his awakening sensa-
tons lie satisfied the first with hall
melted snow, and the second with raw butfa
10 "A k..,, h,a ST., f,uls.t lxv,s
died to few glimmering sparks was
re-lighted, he roasted the meat, and reckless
ly dcvoured three days rations at meal
BY the morning be was so much better
(partly through the rest which the lauda-
uum had given 10 his mind, partly through
the sustenance which the excess Of food had
afforded TO his body that the preservation
| OF his life became once more matter OF
some interest to him. He tottered out.
leaning Oh his rifle, TO get little exercise.
In lew days he contrlved to walk as lar AZ
the top OF low hill, FROM which he could
look iorth, all round, over the lonesome
prospect.
by this time his provisions were at al
end, and the last faint hope Of rescue from
| the Mission had died out oi his mind. IL
was question, now, whether the man
should devour the wolves, or the wolves the
/ man. The man had his rife, his ammuni-
toD. and bis steady resolution TO fight it out
with solitude cold, starvation, and to the very
last--and the wolves dropped under his bul
lets, and fed him with their dry slnewy flesh.
He took the best part OF the meat only,
aud lett the rest. Every morning the car.
case abandoned AT night was missing. The
wolves that were living devoured TO the last
! morsel the wolves that were dead.
| lie grew accustomed to his wretched and
revolving food. and TO every other hardship
| Of hls forl0rn situation--cxccpt the solitude
Of it. The unutterable oppression Of m'
own loneliness hung upon his mind, a hea.
/ vier and heavier weight with each succeed.
ing day. A savage sbyness at the idea OF
meeting with any living human creatures
/ began to take possession Of him. There
were moments when be underwent the most
| fearful Of all mortal trials--,Ec conscious
senses. At such times, be rang. and whis-
tied. and extended his walks to the utmost
limits that his strength would allow and 20,
by main force, as IL were held hs own tot.
iering reason still In ts place.
| Thus, the wotul time--the dTeary, lonely,
| hopeless bours-wore on I'LL be had cut his
sixteenth notch in the tentpole. This was
a memorable day in the history OF the Cru.
.oe Of the snowy desert.
He had walked out 10 the top Of the little
bin to watch the suns way downward in
the wintry wchern heaven, aud be was
YEARLY looking abou, him ~ usual, when
he saw ,go human figures, specks ~ yet IN
the distance, approaching from the lar north.
/ The warning Of the Delaware Indian cam
back 30 biz memory, and reminded him that
,hose two men were approaching from the
district Of the murderous Pswnos
A moment. consideration decided him TO
await The coming ni ihcse strangers IN a
place ~ ambush which COMMANDED a view
Of his tent Ifthey were Pawp+s b. kse~
that the time had eone when they OF be-
mast die.
He welt back 20 the tent, armed bimslf
with a. many weapon a. b. could carry,
took the percussion caya on the res' and bid
them under his bed Then h. put wood 90
the Gre, ~ O. 10 ut the smoke rise freely
through the opening al ibe top of the tent,
aud thereby strengthen any suspicion iu tie
mind o. strangers that living man Ss- IN.
SIDE II sni he Dext iasteBad the second
ogening which served ia door, tying I, 90
the inner SIDE. a. II h. tad shut himself sp
'pf the night. Ihs done, bs Withdrew 10
the frozep river of sandy liill Creek, Aboui
hundred and d',y paos ~ waking bark.
wards 70 a. u make b. lOo,markp 10 ibe
.now appear ~ be Iesd ~ to the ten,, IN
,,sai q away from Il. Arrived On The zee.
~ xhch tie high wind had drllt-i the
.uCx % 90 The hanks. h. ros n hs .hf-s
/ f1- ,ear III fail. 10 ,hem night btray bin
I by .ers'cts- ua ,he smooth irozen suriacs,
I aDi thsr followed the s,f'Am over tbs 'oe
. III Ls feactsi tie slndihg which b"sght
. a.. ,...r.. ..-.sa.f n Ia. INT II~FI be