The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-12-28
From the Daily Wisconsin.
Luke Blair's Encounter with a
Pack of Wolves.

clamation was not more sudden than
startlingly uttered, and sent the chills
creeping from the leaping heart in prick
ing sensations over the skin.
It was the first time had ever noticed
such tremor in the old squatter's tones,
or manner which indicated that he ever
felt fear. 1t was something unusual, and
With my own young pulse quickened,
watched the old man by the dim light of
the FIRE.
had known Luke Blair-"Old Luke"
as he was called for ten years. and yet
knew nothing of his history. There was
q mystery about him which none ever
peaetrated, and an eccentricity of manner
which gave his movements peculiar in
terest to his rough but true hearted COM
rades. He spent his time in the woods,
and never brought in any thing but wolves
scalps. There was fierce burning look
in his eye as he flung them upon the
ground, and he would sit for hours after
one OF his excursions with his head bow.
ed between his hands a
As unsocial as was the squatter, he was
respected by all who had come IN con.
tact with him. He was brave to madness
and yet as cool in danger as in his camp.
Nor was there any thing rough in his
manners; on the contrary, there was an
easy bearing, which--almost elegance :
bespoke day of education and refine
ment And when he did speak, his Ian.
guage was well chosen.
| Blair had. other qualifications which
won the respect Of the hardy spirits
around him. he was six feet in hight.
broad. .shouldered, full-chested, and form
erect, and his limbs were models of SYM
metry and strength; hair and beard had
grown unshorn since we had known him.
land were thickly sprinkled with gray.
But the forehead, darkly bronzed and
deeply scanned, was almost massive, aud
the head Of faultless mold. The eye was
dark, lnstrous. and, in excitement, of Pc
culiar and fascinating: power. Around
his neck was some sacred token. which
no eye had seen, and which he guarded
with jealous care.
i There was something about the old
man--his commanding presence. his bra.
very, and his lonely habits and sad man.
ner-which won my young heart, and ]
watched every opportunity of manifestipg
Imy regard. I had engaged bin to guide
me to Mississippi, by way Of Prairie
1 For several days we threaded the dens,
forests which intervene6, and under grea
difficulties. The snow had fallen to al
unusual depth. the cold was intense, ant
rendered more intolerable by the 6erc
winds from the prairie waste. We wer
warmly dressed. but there were times whel
the weary frame began to feel the dream
influence of the sleep which steals SO ia
tally over the senses. ltaA
On the night in question we. turne
aside to seek the shelter of Q grove Q
small timber, and to end fuel. for our fire
1--WE had faced the binding storm ell day
and could hardly keep sufficiently awak
to kin6le the FIRE and secure wood for th
uight. We had Just accomplished thi
when the hunter made the exclamation 9
the head Of our story. I was awake 9
once, and the blood tingled through m
Il Cuiuou V0Iuo, lOt = huOW tuot AuhS Oin
would not speak without cause.
n "Harkl"
The word was but whisper, but had
terrible distinctness. His hand had ir
voluntarily sought his rife, and his hea
turned toward the woods. heard moth
ing but the wild roar of the storm as
swept by. No.
.There tits agaipl The devils are Q
= our trackin and he clutched his knif
a handle with steady grasp, and breathe
hardly between his thin nostrils.
heard the noise this time, which hs
attracted his attention before. swelling,
: the storm lulled an instant, into viii
protracled howl, as from thousand far
ished throats, clear, dismal and Wailir
with that fearful tone which startles Il
!. boldest, even at their Gresides. Bla
3 turned, and as our eyes met he slow
whispered: sas.
"a pack of hungry wolves God ha
mercy upon usi" .,,,a4al $50
A sickening sensation went like fla
to the heart, and then came burnir
thoughts of home, and again the chill
as thought of the shelterless prairie al
binding snow.
"Againl the black devils are on o
trackp' s.-..;...
n As Blair spoke he laid his hand up'
4. my arm, and with an expression of sa
i ness which l never shall forget, look
iii me steadily in the. eye. There was t:
NOR Of the lip (which I had never seen
! FORE 1t was not fesr-I knew that-b
g some terrible remembrance or presen
's; ment which came over him with irresis
'er BILE power. i9. y as3is
es. 1.-THE hour has comel knew it won
ell have felt it for days. do not fe
death, but it is horrible to be hunt
down in such . spot as this, and be to
in by Internal devils" e.uea
His breath came thick and hissi
he through his clenched teeth. and his bre,
m. heaved with intense emotion $50 @
'vs "Here." said be, lifting the soiIed stri