The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-05-16

in the camp. Once again! sure
ly l am mistaken. / thought the
fire was nearer to me, just in front;
and so it is. What, then, can be
those two glimmering lights few
yards off? Now they are moving!
/ awoke the nearest sleeper-an
American named Silas Wood. The
man starts to his feet, rubs his eyes.
"What is it2" "Look there, Silas.'
He looks, and as quick as lightning,
seizcs a burning fagot, and hurls it
with all his force and unerring aim.
The cleaning lights disappear with
a rustic of the brushwood-a sharp
short bark close at hand, and then
in a minute or two, the long low
| wall in Embellishments l3earl
Silas then stirred and raked the
burning embers, and throwing on
an immense heap ofdry brush, in u
second the Egyptian darkness is
dispelled by a bright flame which
leaps up six feet into the air, and
brings the sleeping figures and the
nearest trees into full relief.
'Silas, what docs it all mean? |
asked.
1T means. squire, replied the
American, speaking with his US
ual deliberate drawl-'Wolrc$p
'Wolvosp / re-echoed. Then
those two cleaning light that |
took for glow-worms were'-
"A wolfs eyes squire; and l guess
his friends warn't fur off, awaitin'
kinder anxious to hear tell of their
scout Hark! if the darned things
amt agroanin' and lamentin' over
their disappointment, as sure as my
names Silas Wood"
Once moro the long low howl, in
expressly sad and fearful, was heard
at a great distance. Now that /
knew what it implied, it made the
blood curdIc in my veins.
Il shallnever forget a VOLTS howl
l exclaimed; 4 heard that accursed
sound in my dream as plainly as
hear itnow. But are we not in dan
GER? and | began mechanically to
pile up more wood on the blazing
fire.
No fears now, squire replied the
Yankee coolly; the cowardly crit
ters darsn't come nigh a fire like
that. Besides l reckon the feller |
scared so with that ere burning
chip has told 'cm it's no go by this
time. They're as cunning as hui
mans, is them critters. Ay be off,
and good radiance to ye, ye how
ling yarmintsp he added, as the low
wall was once more heard dying
away in the distance.
Notwithstanding the assurance
that the wolves were retrcating, |
took great pleasure in seeing the
fire blazing up brightly, for | knew
that in that consisted. our protoc-
ton. Il suppose we have had a
narrow escapcT | said to my com
panion, who, besides myself was
the only one awake in the camp.
Il reckon I've seen q narrower,
them replied he. why that'ero
skulkin' scout darns't have give
warning to the rest Of the pack
as long as single red ember re-
mained. The critters is drcedful
afearcd of fire.
We'll, L rejoined, 4 am not at all
sorry | awoke when l did. But as
we're the only two awake, suppose
you tell me this narrow escape you
allude to- that is, if you don't feel
sleepy.
Me, squire? I amt sleepy, not a
mossel, l couldn't sleep a wink, If |
tried. I feel to kinder happy liked
to have cotched that darned sneak
ing scout sich a lick; and the Yam
kee laughed, quite tickled at there
collection. Il guess he had it right
slick atween the eyes. l knowed
he felt itby the bark he gave. Well,
squire, it will give me considerable
satisfaction to narrate to you my adj
venture with the tarnal critters. |
guess, squire, it be a matter of ten
year agone that Deacon Nathan had
a raisin' away down to Stockville,
in Yarmouth, where | was reared.
What is a raising?' l asked
well, [ guess it's buildin' bee,'
rejoined the Yankee.
"And pray what is q building
beef l inquired, "for am as wise
as I was before
you see, squire, when you wants
to get anything done up right away
in a hurry to oncet like, whether
it's tlax-beaten' or apple-parin,' or
corn-huskin,' and the neighbors all
ronnd come snd help work, that's a
bee; and a buildin' bee, or raisin,
is when they want to sot up the
frame of q house or a barn
'Oh, that is q building bee; now
[ understand
We'll [ guess it were bretty big
barn that Deacon Nathan was ago,
ingtoraise, and sowe had a consider