The Goodhue volunteer., 1863-12-30
80 N@ n

me: =: - a. f
You takethe right one, and the left,
and We wilIflne together When whis-
tie, shoot 49, .'. .r.. -
In an instant he gave quick shrill whis
tie, and with the report Of our guns, two Of
the largest Of tho brutes rolled over among
the pack. the horses made frightened dash
forward, and the living wolves stopped to
gather round their dead companions. .:
Stand steady / said Butler, shoarsely.-
They'll b On US agin. They'll run this ere
team dovn.lm afearsd I'lllook out for
EN- On tAisstae, If you'll tend TO- EN- there.,
It was just As he had said; in few no
ments on theJ CAME again, over hundred
gaping mouths, and lolling tongues almost
breathing into our very faces. and pouring
their horrible cry into our very ears. We
had instantly reloaded, and were ready for
them again; ana with the whistle another
brace Of the aniHsls werc staining the
white snow with their blood. This time
the pack did not stop to inquire into the
matter; but the shots sent the horses slight
ly ahead, and Hiram dropped on his knees
among the straw, livid and helpless with
terror, and Butler had seized the reins in
his left hand, while in his right he held a
revolver. He gave the cowardly driver q
spurning push with his foot as he did so,
and with voice that had terrible earnest
hess about it said;
1t would sarve ye right, ye mean cuss.
III I'd throw We out to the varmints. l
don't know what yer good for but to make
more work for the team ~ ending off his
words with shot at a great gray beast,
that came striding alongside the sleigh, al
most against the muzzel Of his pistol, as he
stopped to reach it.
Within a moment our own rifles brought
down their pai:. but what were two taken
from that fierce pack? The horses were
Islill staggering on; sometimes stumbling al
most to their knees and looking over the
back of the sleigh, I could see occasional
blood spots upon the snow, which knew
. came from the mouths or nostrils Of one or
both Of them. Ny soul seemed to be alb
sorbed in picking out from the pack some
monster Of more hidcous jaws and size than
the others, and thinking Of him as perhaps
the one that y as destined to, tear NY. own
hesh and theu watching him until ball
from my rife would roll him in the snow
Shot after shot we fired in this way. varied
by those from Buffers revolver, and &C.
Icompanied by the groans Of Hiram, who by
this TIME was coiled up under the front seat
until the voice o! the old hunter was heard
'again.
If do:.'t disremember. thar's an old
log cabin ,omewhare hereabouts. saw it
as we ca'4e up, but didn't take pe'tcklar
notice. 1t can't be more tn mile
|on y
I turned my head and strained my sight
out into the darkness, but saw nothing, and
then turned to Butler for an explanation.
If we can reach that kal'late Ws'rc
safe for while, 'Iow'n the door amt
gone.
saw in these words one little chance for
life, ard once moro gave my entire attention
to the blood thirsty fends on our track. 1
laid my rifle upon the seat, and grasped my
knife firmly in my right hand, ready to ro.
ceiye each Of the beasts il he should attempt
to jump into the sleigh; while Stafford
stood ready with his rife and one revolver
to do bis share Of the work. I had no
sooner so prepared myse'fthan an enormous
fellow made spring, and landed with his
torepaws upon the back Of the sleigh, =
spring that brought him full upon the point
of my knife, transfxing him and throwing
him back dead, into the midst Of his fellows
almost carrying my knife with him. Just
at this moment heard the voice Of Butler
As though speaking to himself.
We'll done mister Now then, zee the
cabin just before rs, beyond that big CEDAR
and than ..e began, for the first time, lash
ling the horses, who sprung into Wild gal \
Iop. seemingly the very last exertion they
were capable Of making. -
BE ready, now, to jump for it IS we get
to the house = was the cid hunters next
words. 'There'll be no time 70 lose -
Wake I'M hcre vor, cnsa y ha xaid giving
Hiram kick, which brought the man half
standing in the sleigh. 'Waks mp and savs
yourself, though yer ugly carcass isn't much
worth savin', nuther.'
Whether it was that the pack were firing
|or that the horses wsrs going faster under
Buffers lashing. - osstainly vsrs gaining
|. few feet on them, Ths seconds seemed
|honrs, until i LAST Butler, with ! jerk thai
|alnost ihlsvw ths horses 90 ,hsir hsunch
lee, drew up u front of tie cabin.