The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-02-04


fear heightened their already net'lesome
spirits, and we sped on ward with the
rapi'i'y ofHgh,ning.
II looked towards Mary, expecting
TO see her faint or fall /; bnt to my aston
ishment she remained calm and self
possessed. Her bride fell loosely over
h" neck Of her flying steed, while she
sas inteutly examining the p-iming Of
lie, pistols, which she had taken from
her belt.
II followed her example, anil while
We were thus occupied the sounds OF
onr nnrsners became plainly audible.
Now hreakin. ont in one wild, indes,
cribabla veil. and now dying away in
the depths Of the lonely forest, as the
savage brutcs drew nearer. | shall
never forget that fearful moment, It il
impressed deeply upon my memory-a
more pcrilouS moment one seldom meets
with in lifetime
"Wih the skill Of an experienced
equestrian. the brave yet determined
Girl turned in her saddle. hraced agains,
the neck Of her bounding animal. In
each hand she held tightly pistol, the
barrels Of which gl~tenei in the pale
moonlight, and with great calmaess she
awaited the coming Of our dreaded foe.
did tie same, but with fearful appre
hension, not only for my own safety, but
! fpr the dear .ifl who had entrusted her,
self in my care, and ! resolved to sac
rtice nv lit-, il needful to save hers
! The next moment. however, the hungry
wolves (tnnr in nambe,) appeared IN
sight, their long lean bodies stretched
IL their utmost extremity, their red
tongues hanging from their mouths,
which we're white with foam, while their
cyes clared Ike Goals Of fire as they
rushed or, bowling, yelling, eager to
ponnce upon their prey.
"Amia this scene Of immen. peril.
heard Mary's voice rising above the
hi!eous ,ells Of the wolves, as she ex.
claimed: BE sure your aim is true
save vour own l;!e before mil e.
"At ,ha: instant the report of on,
weapons in quick succession filed the
air with smoke, and in a moment had
he satisfaction If seeing three of on,
parsrers stretched on the ground vel
terinr in their blood
Bu, the fourth, ferocious creature
rem ,nea nnhnr., and as if to revenge
The death ot lis companions, he leaped
with yel! Of rage, upon the back OF
Mary'- horse snl before could prevent
him. had fastened his fierce clutches
/ upon her. Terror cave me the strength
It desperation, ana refining my horse NJ
near ~ possible to that of Mary, and
.rasria- portion Of her dress in one
hand, with the other I made deep and
| fearful gashes in the Wells body with
nv hunting knife. This made him
loosen lis hold, and he fell heavily te
the ground, while his victim, pale and
! bleeding. cas-, upon me smile Of gra-
tituda as she sank with murmur Of
pain in'o my arms.
Oar terrified horses, when relieved .,
their weight. darted off at fearful
speed and quickly disappeared in the
darkness OF the surrounding woods,
| leaving me alone, far from human ha-
bi.a,ion, and with helpless maiden in
my arms. wholly dependent upon me
Tor protection. greatly feared should
be again visited hv others, and in tha,
I emergency, there was not much hope
for either Of us. yet | determined to de
fand Mary's life with my ewn. I car
rie,i her, bleeding and insensible, and
laid her carefully upon little rise ol
ground, then, after loading my pistols
that I might be prepared should my
enemies appear again, l administered
to her snch restora,ives as circnmstan
ces would permit. I examined the
wounds she had received, which salts.
fed me that they were not only danger.
ous, but probably would prove fatal. ]
ha,hel her head and hands in cold
water to restore consciousness, and at
length had the satisfaction Of seolng my
Efforts crowned with snccess. She
opened her eyes langu;d'y, and for a
moment seemed lost in coniecturiLe 9
what had happened then AS the events
came to her She looked up into my face
with an anxious expression Of counte
nance, and said, Il hope you are no'
hurt, my kind friend ?" "Not in tn,
least" | answered. "But l fear yol
are seriously injured, yet there arc III
means of conveying you home as ou
horses have both disappeared"