Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-01-20
MistelIaneous.
LUKE BLAIR,S
Encounter with y Pack OF Wolves.
A WESTERN SKETCH.

A WESTERN SKETCH.
"God have mercy upon us ~ This ex-
clamation was not more sudden than start
lihgly uttered, and sent the chills creeping
from the leapihg heart in pticking Sensation
over the skin.
1t was the first time I had ever Noticed
such tremor in the old squatters tones or a
manner which indicated that he ever felt
feat It was something unustial, and with
my own pulse quickened, watched the cid
man by the dim light Of the fire.
[ had known Luke Blair-"Old Luke, .
as he was callsdS,-for ten years, and yet
knew nothing Of his history. There was d
mystery about him which none ever penetra-
ted, and an ecccntricity Of manner which
gave his movements peculiar interest to his
rough but true-hearted comrades. He spent
his time in the woods, and never broughtih
anything but wolves scalps. There was a
fierce burning look in bis eye as he flung
them upon the ground; and he would sit fol
hours after one of his excursions with his
head bowed between his hands.
As unsocial as was the sduatter, he was
respected by all who had come in contact
with him. He was brave to madness, and
yet as cool in danger as in his camp. Nor
was there ahsthing rough In his t1anhers
on the contrary there was an easy bearing
almost elcgance-which bespoke day Of
education and refinement: Aud when he
did speak his language was well chuseh.
Blair had other qualifications which won
the respect of the hardy spirits around him
He was si* feet high: broad shouldered; full
chested, and form erect; and his limbs were
models of symmetry and strength; his hal,
and beard had grown unshorn since we hae
known him, and We're thickly sprinkled viii
gray. But the forehead, though darkly
bronzed and deeply scanned, was almos
massive; and the head Of fanltless mould. =
The eye was dark, lustrous, and in excite
ment, of peculiar and fascinating power
Around his neck was some sacred token
which no eye had seen, and which he guar.
ded with jealous cars.
There was something about the old man;
his commanding presence, his bravery, and
bis lonely habits and sad manner-whicE
won my young heart, and watched every
opportunity of manifestiug my regard.
had engaged him to guide me to the Missis
sippi, BY tie way of - Prairie.
For several days We threaded the dens.
forests which interviewed, and under grea
difficulties. The snow had fallen to an unu
snal depth. the cold was Intense and render
ed more lntolerable by the fierce wind from
the prairie waste. We were warmly dress
ed, but there were times the weary frame
began to feel the dreary influence of til.
sleep which steals so fatally over the sen
ceS
On the night ii question we had turned
aside to seek the shelter of a grove of small
timber, and to find fuel for our fire. W.
had faced the binding storm all day. and
could hardly keep sufficiently awake to kin
die the fire and secure wood for the tight
We had just accomplished this when the
hunter made the exclamation at the head Of
our story [ was awake at once. and the
blood tingled through my veins, for knew
that Luke Blair would not SO speak without
cause.
"Hark''
The word was bit whisper, but had a
terrible dstinctness. His hand had invol-
UNFAIRLY sought his rifle, and his head turn
ed towards the woods I heard nothing but
the wild roar of the storm as it swept BY.
"There It's again The devils are on
our track p and he clutched his knife ham
die with steady grasp. and breathed hard
ly through his tbir nostrils.
| heard the noise this time; which had at
tracted his attention before, swelling, as the
storm lulled an instant, into wild, protrac-
ted howl, as from thousand famished
throats, clear, dismal, and wailing with that
fearful tone which startles the boldest, even
at their fresides. Blair turned, and as our
eyes met he slowly whispered
"A pack of hungry wolves! God have
mercy upon us!
4 sicAening sensation went like fash to
the heart, and then came burniug thought
of home, and again the chills, as thought
of the shelterless prairie and binding snow.
"Again f! the black devils are on our
tracks = rs Blair, spoke he laid his hand
upon my arm, and with nm expression of
sadness which never shall forget looked me
steadily il the eye. There was a treinor of
the lip which I had never seen before. It
was not fear-I knew that-but some terri
bio remembrance or presentiment which
came over him with irresistible power.
The hour has come! | knew it would;
have felt it for days I do not fear death,
but it is horrible to be hunted down in such
a spot as this, and be torn by Internal dew
lis
His breath came thick and kissing through
his clencfea teeth, and his chest heaved
with intense emotion
Here" said be. lifting the soiled String
over his head; and taking locket attached
to it in his hand, sis the shadow of one you
never knew. but the original was onee the
light of my young life, and come with me to
this territory when the world was bright
with hope. Z left her in the cabin, one day
and went to my work as usual. She cross
sd the valley, and came where was work
ing. Wishing to fell the tree | was at work
upon, urged her to cross the log over the
creek before dark, and I would immediately
follow her. She had been gone but little
time, when there burst up between me and
our cabin that Tong, freezing sound the howl
If wolf. It was answered as if from
housahis thfoats, up and down the valley,