The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1864-10-07

caring ahu IefOclOuS, anu aL Sucn u sea-
son of the year, with the ground covered
deep with snow, were often sufficiently
maddenel with hunger to attack any llv-
ing thing, either man or beast, more es-
pecally when collected together in for
midable numbers. The single howl we
had heard was the night-calI OF some lone.
y beast to his distant and scattered COM
panions; and just in proportion to the
number Of these calls and replies, aad the
distance Of the animals from US, was the
danger we had to fear.
For perhaps minute after the first
call we heard no answer; and We're Just
beginning to hope that none would be
given, when another dismal howl, in a
different direction, fell upon our cars
This was quickly followed by another
and another, aud then by not less than
dozen, on all sides of us, some Of them
50 near as to slarlle our horse, which
raised his head. with terrified snor.,
looked timidly to the right and left, and
then sprung forward at "a gallop.
"Let hun go, it may be our only
chancel' | said to Jules, feeling my hair
rise with horrer.
at won't save US" re u ned the latter
desparngly. "lf the beast was free
from his traces he couldn't outrun these
hungry devils, which are fast gathering
upon us before and behind"
"But as yet they may know nothing
of us?' | said, encouraylngly, though vo-
ry far from entertaining any such happy
belief mys4'f
"Why, then, look there and there !"
cried Jules. pointing with bis whip. first
to the right and then to the left
did look and a cold sweat seemed to
start through every pore, as, in either
direction, | perceived an undua,ing sha
dow moving rapidly over the now star.
lighted snow, at an angle calculated to
reach US at some unknown point ahead.
Almost at the same moment, too, | heard
some yeIps behind; and, looking back, !
beheld another small body of the furious
animals in the road, even nearer to u
than the others, coming forward like q
pack of hounds in full chase.
"Merciful God p | cried care we
doomed TO die in this manner Faster,
JGles--faster put the horse to his ut
most lit is our only chance"
Don't you see he's doing his best,
your honor, and that he can't gain an
inch on these desis"'
1t was true; our gellant horse, as
frightened as ourselves, was already on
dead run, bounding us over the frozen
snow at terrific aud dangerous rate And
yet to what purpose? Slowly, but stead
lily, the two undulating shadows, to the
right and left, were closing in to the cen
tral iue; and the yelping crew behind,
had gained en- US little, and might have
come up to us at once, only that the nat
ural cowardice of the brues kept them at
a respectful distance while their numbers
were SO comparatively few.
Glow far now to Carlsbad. Julss?"
More than league, sir?"
"Shall we ever reaceh it?'
"Heayen knowsl Ii the horse car
hold out, if the harness don't break, if the
cutter don't upset, and ifthe brutes don't
attack us, there's a chance
"ls there no place on the way where
we can stop? no dwelling, barn, stable,
or hut that we can take refuge ing"
"rheres hut about mills ahead, bit
how can we get into it? The moment
We stop, these wolves will be upon us.
and thirty seconds would be long enough
for them to tear us to pieces and deyour
u.s."
"We must put our cole trust IN God,
them" groaned.
eyes, your honor, that is all that we
can do"
Suddenly Jules, who had been sitting
IN silance, holding the reins of the run
ming horse with the same apparent firm
ness as if driving on race,coursc, partly
turned his head, ana exc laimed
"Qu;ckl quick! your honor-have you
a strong, sharp kuife?"
,,Yes! yes!"
"Quick. ..then in Heavens namel.quicl!
quick !-give it mel give it me!-aaother
minute will be too late!"
tore off my glove. whirled back the
skins, furs and ether garments, thrust my
hand into pocket, aud brought forth a
ong, Spanish asp-knife, which opened
with spring.
"Here! JuIes-herer'
He took it, with declaration hisexci-
led words had not led me to expct; and
,hen, turning his eyes toward Heaved,
said, solemly:
May God smile upon the designl it
SCENES our only hopey'
"Jules," | cried, with a sshudder, catch
ing him by the arm, "shurely you are not
self-destruction?"
"No. no, no, your honor! but plan to
save us both, with Gods help! Here
quick! take the reins! take the the reinsp
| did so mechanically. but amazed and
mystifed. Instantly Jules leaned fnrward