The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-25

until one wild, starLlnsI uneALhiy ho"I
swelled on the still evening air. God, how
that howl went to the soul reeled in Ut
ter weakness, a 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 different sound
reached my ears. 1t seemed that my brain
would burn into ashes under the fiery heat,
and my heart burst from my bosom. That
was the cry of my wife--a clear, waiIing
shrek of mortal agony."
Blair dropped his head and thrust his fin
gers INTO his ears, as il that terrible sound
was again ringing through the forest. A
moment, and he hurriedy resumed:
II re membered no more until the morning
broke, and the sun smiled through the trees
upon q terrible scene. II was horrible The
ground was torn and attained with dark spots,
! where pools of blood had sunk away. Seven
long black bodies lay around gushed by the
axe, some of them glaring fiercely as they
fell, their tongues thrust out Ond the white
fangs cleaning fearful in their open jaws.
The axe itself lay within resch, red with
blood it's entire length. My own arms were
also stained, and still damp. But, God OF
mercy a worse sight than all this met my
gaze of returning consciousness. Tightly
in my arms | was holding the head of my
wife, her form bare, and her limbs torn into
shreds."
The old man sobbed convulsively, and
wrung his hands until it seemed thSt the
blood would start from his fagers.
, "Coming!"
r Again, and nearer than before, the dismal
! howl rose above the storm. The camp fire
D burned dimly in the binding storm OF snow
' and sense of loneliness and terror came
: over the spirit darker than the sky overhead
e "Here, take this" SAID Blair, as he hand
/, ed me the locket, sand if you survive, carry
d il to -, New York, and | will thank
0 you. Boy, l am not afraid to die
q Death will be rest, and I shall see Marla.--
We must take to the trees. 1t is freeze, o.
n death by the wolves. Quick, boy ! Good
:, bye"
= felt the hot tesrs drop on my hand
d the old man pressed his quivering lips upo
!. t, and then pushed on towards tn trees.
). We had need to be quick, for we had hardI
reached the branches when score OF lonG
Sc gloomy shadows shot out OF the surroundln
at darkness, and sent up yell which went
n, the heart colder than the breslh OF the WIZ
q try blast. They paid but little attention
I'd the dim fire, and scenting their prey gathe
ly ed in a shadowy circle beneath US.
~ "Lash yourself fast, boy, aud commen
Of your soul to God, for you will Freeze an
he better to rot on the oak than TO be torn
the devils"
ed "It's of no use," he continued, es l SUI
al ges,ed that the sound Of our guns mig
ad reach the inmates OF the cabin, "they wou
I'D not hear 'em in the storm, and besides,
he swear by the living God, that | will sci
ad some of them to h-lI before de-"
de Blair commenced his deadly work, and
- one of the wolves fell the others fought
red snarled, end gnashed their teeth over I
Ike borrid least. Their teeth sounded like
shifting of steel upon steel. Still tn
howled more fiercely as the slaughter We
on.
'ol- "My gun is wet, and will not CO." he
ed Blair muttcr with curse. damn 'em
tn try them with IKE"
My wildly uttered warning was too II
on for, as it swelled above the sounds belt
an. with unnatural strength Blair leaped 90
dly with shout of rage and defiance, and
his exc and knife fought the pack face
at face.
the grew sick at heart as | watched
act burning eye.baIls the struggle through
ats, darkness. | could see the black io
rful swarming around the trunk, where Is
heir had backed up. After the first howl OF
met as it seemedto me, when Blair jumped DO
the wolves were less noisy, and opparcl
lave more wary, for they seemed to realize
,hey had an enemy to deal with. mi
lash called to him, and muttered curses as
ghts to unite the thongs with which had las
ughl myself to the trunk.
low. "Ha, ha glorious sport mere, ooy;
our ther devil the less !" and his maniac Ia
hand and shout came up scarcely less start
n OF than those OF the wolves around him
oked knew that he was mad. .
'mor could hear the vice like jaws close
e. stantly around Blair, and now and then
ter axe sink with heavy, crunching sound
hich some skull, and then all grew more din
delicious feeling Of happiness crept over
Id the sounds OF the strife below died out,
cath, sweet dreams stole over me like the S
such mer's breath. The reports OF our rifles
dev- reached the cabin, which, as l afterw
learned, was not twenty rods from where
ough camped. The inmates, numbering
aved fourteen, by the addition of emigrants
had stopped in the storm, came out
tring dogs and guns, and reached the spot b
ched moment too late. Blair had lodged his
!, you so deeply In the head Of wolf tina
> the corners remained fast, and the others
ne to him down. They were literally shot d
right with their fangs holding to the torn +