, 1859-12-06
i9ress Ttihttttc,
LUKE BLAIHsS
Encounter with a Pack OF Wolves.

Encounter with a Pack Of Wolves.
"God hare mercy upon us!" This e1cla-
nation was not more sudden than etartlingiy
uttered, aud sent the chil!s creeping from tie
lcapiug heart in p1icking sensations over the
skin. .-.
1t was the first time had ever noticed such
a tremoE in the old squa1ters tones, OF man
ner which indicated that lie ever felt fear, 1t
was something unusual and with my own
young pulse quickened, I watched the old man
By the dim light Of the fire.
I had known Luke Blair-"Old Luke" as
he WAS caled-for ten years, and yet knew
nothing Of his history. There was mystery
about him which none ever penetrated, aud an
eccenhicity Of manner which gave his move
ments peculiar interest to his rough but true
hearted comrades. He spent his time in the
woods, and never brought in anything 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 ex-
cursions with his head bowed between his
hands,
As unsocial rs was the squatter, he was re-
spected by all who had come in contact with
him He was brave to madness, md yet as
cool in danger as in his camp. Nor was there
anything rough in his manners; On the con-
trary, there was m easy bearing almost ele-
gance-whicll bespoke day Of education and
refinement And when he did speak his lang
uago was well chosen. :
Blair had other qualifications which won the
respect Of the hardy spirits around him He
WIS si1 feet in height, broad-shouldered, full
chestcdt. and form erect, and his limbs were
models Of symmetry and strength; hair and
beard had grown unshorn since nc Ind known
him, and were thiekly sprinkled with gray.
But the forehead, though darkly bronzed and
deeply seamed, was almost massive, and the
head Of faultless mould. The eyr was dark,
1ustrous, and, in excitement Of peculiar md
fascinating power. Around his neck was socae
sacred token, which no eye had seen, and
Which he guarded with Jealous care.
There was something about the old non-
his commanding presence, his bravery, and his
lonely habits and sad manncr-whlch won my
young heart, and watched every opportunity
Of 1nanIesting my regard. l had engaged
him to guide me to the Mississippi By way Of
- Prairie.
For several days we threaded the dense for
ests which interviewed, md under great Difficult"
ties. The SNOW had [allon to an unusual depth,
the cold was intense, and rendered moro intol-
cradle by the fierce wind from the prairie
waste We were warmly dressed, but there
were times when the weary framo began to
feel tue dreamy influence Of the sleep which
steals 30 fatally oxer the Senses
On the night in question we had turned
aside to seek the shelter Of 4 grove Of small
timber, and to ind fuel for our fire, We had
faced tie binding storm all day, and could
hardly keep sufficiently awake to kindlo the
fire and secure wood for the night. We had
Just accomplished this when the hunter made
tue exclamation at the head Of our story. I
was awake at once, and the blood tiuged
through my chilled veins, for knew that Luke
Blair would not so speak without cause.
sIIark?"
The word was but whisper, but had q ter
riblo distinctuess. His hand had inyolnntarlly
sought his rifle, and his head turned towards
the woods. heard nothing but the wild roar
Of tho storm rs it swept By.
4'Thcre It's again! Tue devils are on ou1
track!" and he clutched his knife handle with
a steady grasp, and bseathed hardly between
lis thin nostrils.
l hearl tho noise this time, which had at
tracted his attention before, swelling, Us the
storm lulled IN instant, into wild, pfotracteG
| Lowl, as from O thousand furnished throats
clear, dismal, and wailiug with that fearful
tone, whicl, star,lcs the boldest, even at theil
firesides. Blair turned, and rs our eyes me-
he slowly whispered:
"A pack Of hungry wolves! God hayt
mercy upon us!'
| 4 sckening sensation went like flask t
the heart, and then came burning thought!
| Of home, and again the chills, as I though
| Of the sIlelterless prairie aud binding snow
"igainl the black devils are on our tracA'
As Blair spoke ht laid his hand upon my arm
and with an expression Of sadness which
never shall forget, looked me steadily in tn
ere. There was i trcmor Of the lip which
had never seen before. It was not fear
knew that-tut some terrible remembrance
| or prcscntment which came over linn, viii
irresistible power.
"The hour has come! knew it would
hare felt it for days I do not fear death, bu
it is horrible 10 he hunted down in such 4 spo
as this, and be torn by internal devils"
His breath came thick and Kissing througl
his c|cachcd teeth, and his chest heayed witt
intense emotion
"Herc," said he, lifting the so!led strin
over lis head, and taking locket attached t
it in lis hand, sis the shadow Of one you ney
er knew, hut tho original was once the light {
| my Young life, and came with nle to this teri
tory when tue world was bright with hope.
left her in the cabin one day, and went to n,
work as uss,al She crossed the valley IN
came where I was working. Wishing to fe
the tree 1 was at work upon, urged her
Cross the log over the creek befrre dark, and
would Immediately follow her. She had 1t
been gone but little TING, when there burr
IN between me and our cabin that loag, free;
iag eound, tic howl Of n wolf 1t was al
swcred as if from thousand throats u
and down tl!c valley, until one will
startling, uucarthly howl swc}lcd on tt
still evening :ir. God, how that hov
went to tho soul! reelcd in utter wcalzuc:
a moment, hut soon rallied, and with the spec
and energy Of despair, rushed down tho pat
| lad rencl,ed tho stream, and WAS upon Il
old trunk thrown across, when another md
different sound reached my ears. It secn,t
that my b: ain would burn into ashes under Il
:ierv l,eat, aud my heart burst from my bosot
: That was the cry Of my wife, clra:, wallt
: s1,rick Of mental agony"
: Blair dropped his head and thrust his finsc
into his cars, rs iithat terrible sound was aga
ringing through the forest. 4 moment, aud
!, hurriediv resumed:
II remember no moro until the moruil
broke, ard the sun smiled through the te
upou the terrible scene. 1t was horrlbl
The ground was torn aud stained with da
spots where pools Of blood lad sunk aw:
Seven lopg Hack bodies lag around gashed
tho axe, some Of them g9ar;ng tlcrceiy rs tt
fell, their tongues thrust out, and the @h
:. fan,s cleaning fcar!ully in their open jN
The axe itself 1ay within reach, red with h'1
its cEtirc length. Ny own arms wcrc a