The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-05-30
that Luke Blair would not SO speak with

Ahe Woru was out Whisper, out nau
terrible distinctness His hand had
involuntarily sought his rifle, and his
head turned towards the woods. heard
nothing but the wild roar of the storm as
it swept by.
"There tits again The devils are
on our track p and he clutched his knife
handle with a steady grasp, and breathed
hardly between his thin nostrils.
heard the noise this time, which had
attracted his attention before, swelling, as
the storm lulled an instant, into a wild,
protracted howl, as from thousand fam
ished throats, clear, dismal, and wailing
with that fearful tone, which st,rtles the
boldest, even at their tiresides. Blair
turned, and as our eyes met lie slowly
whispered:
"a pack of hungry wolves God
have mercy upon us y
A sickening sensation went like flash
to the heart, and then came burning
thoughts of home, and again the chills,
as | thought of the shelterless prairie and
binding snow.
Again the black devils are on our
track !" AS Blair spoke he laid his hand
upon my arm, and with an expression of
sadness which | never shall forget, look
ed me steadily in the eye. There was
tremor of the lip which had never seen
before. 1t was not fear--I knew that
but some terrible remembrance or pre-
sentiment which came over him, with ir-
resistible power.
The hour has come l knew it
would-have felt it for days. do not
fear death, but it is horrible to be hunted
down in such spot as this, and be torn
by Internal devils"
His breath came thick and Kissing
through his clenched teeth. and his chest
heaved with intense emotion.
Here" said he, lifting the soiled
string over his head, and taking locket
attached to il in his hand, " is the shad-
ow of one you never knew, but the orig
inal was once the light of my young life,
and came with me TO this territory when
the world was bright with hope. left
her in the cabin one day, and went to
my work as usual. She crossed the val
ley snd came where | was working
Wishing to fell the tree | was at work
upon, | urged her to cross the log over
the creek before dark, and | would i'm
mediately follow her. She had not been
gone but little time, when there burst
up between me and our cabin that long,
freezing sound, the howl of wolf. 1t
was answered as if from thousand
lhoats 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 l reeled in utter
weakness moment, but soon rallied, and
with the speed and energy of despair,
rushed down the path. | had reached
the stream, and was upon the old trunk
thrown across, when another and diff
ferent sound reached my ears. 1t seemed
that my brain would burn into ashes un-
der the fiery heat. and my heart burst
from my bosom. That was the cry of
my wife, clear, wailing shrek Of men
tai agony"
Blair dropped his head and thrust his
fingers into his ears, as if that terrible
sound was again ringing through the
forest. A moment, and he hurredly re-
sumed
Il remembered no more until the
morning broke, and the sun smiled through
the trees upon the terrible scene. 1t was
horrible T! The ground was torn and
stained with dark spots where pools Of
blood had sunk away. Seven long black
bodies lay around gashed by the axe.
some OF them glaring fiercely as they fell,
their tongues thrust out, and the white
fangs cleaning fearfully in their open
jaws. The axe itself lay within reach,
red with blood its entire length. Ny
own arms were also stained, and still
damp. But. God of mercy a worse
sight than all this met my gaze of return
ing consciousness. Tightly in my arms
| was holding the head of my wife, her
form bare and limbs torn into shreds."
The old man sobbed convulsively,
and wrung his hands until it seemed that
the blood would start from his fingers.
Coming !"
Again, and nearer than before the dis
NAL howl rose above the storm. The
camp fire burned dimly in the binding
storm of snow. and sense Of loneliness
and terror came over the spirit dark
than the sky overhead.
Here, take this" said Blair, as he
handed me the locket. land If you sur
vive. carry il to -. New York, and
will thank you Boy. am not afraid to
die. Death will be rest. and l shall see
Maria. We must take TO the tree. 1t is
freeze, or death by the wolves. Quick,
boy ! Good bye"
| felt the hot tears drop on my hand as
the old man pressed his quivering lips
upon it, and then pushed on towards the
trees.
We had need to be quick, for we had
hardly reached the branches. when
score of long. gloomy shadows shot out
of the surrounding darkness. and sent up
yell which went to the heart cold
than the breath of the wintry blast
They paid but little attention to the dim
fire; +; and seeming their prey gathered
in shadowy circle beneath us.
Lash yourself fast. boy. and com
mend your soul TO God, for you will