The campaign. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1866, 1866-10-12

WillCn IL communicated Wltn tlc more
extended country beyond there was a
group of cork-trees, the peculiar shape
of which rendered them distinguishable
from the bushwood which clothed the
bases of the mountains. Luckily, too,
the valley, precipitous and rugged on
either side, had nearly even ground,
perhaps half mile wide, upon which,
when once reached, the walking would
be easy. SO, though the trees were
good three miles off, and / was already
sufficiently tired, | calculated that |
should reach them in about an hourand
Il half, all hindranceS considered, and
once there, | should be only one mile
from the inn; and, after all, flattrred
myself, | could get home before YOU"
she said, addressing her husband, "and
the Others had begun to be frightened
about me.
COT started, therefore, and walked
away with will. In less than half an
hour the sun set, and for Il while it was
almost totally dark. TO press on, not
minding the stumbles and occasional
falls, and to keep up as brave heart as
/ could, was all that was possible and
| had got nearly to the end of the last
wood, close TO the open ground-Which
| had not dared try to reach by direct
scramble in the darl-and could see the
cork-trees looming large i'll the glim-
mer of the rising moon, when thought
l heard Il peculiar cry far away behind
me, and ! paused for moment 10 lis
ten, thinking there might possibly be
some other bclated wanderer in the
dark as we'll as myself.
For only one moment. The next |
was rushing along as fast Us terror could
drive me, sketching things, cloak, UNI
brclla, everything which might impede
my flight flung away; for in that one
moment all | had ever heard of thenow
seldom seen Pyrenean dogs, their terri
bly, acute scent and horrible fcrocity,
flashed through my mind, and | knew
by instinct that the sound that l had
heard was the cry OF one of them as it
had stumbled on nay trail, and that the
whole pack would be upon me long, |
feared, ere | could get even as far Us the
cork-trcc.
AT first, as | fed along wildly,
gave myself up for lost for the idea OF
defending myself never once occurred to
me, so paralyZcd was | with fear; but
as went on and heard the occasional
cry, and hungry yapping always nearer
and nearer, the horror Of the threatened
death reused in me Il courage | had new
or known before, and remembering
now, in fearful earnest, my revolver,
resolved to sell my life, At all events, as
dear as | could.
AT this moment gained the open
ground. The moon, white and bril-
liant, lighted up the valley, and brought
into strong relief the group Of cork-tr2Cs
not far away now, and which, oh! if
could bnt reach, believed | might yet
escape.
Il pulled out my revolver, hardly
abating my speed, slipped the safety
stop, and made for Il little thickct Of ju-
nipcr some fifty yards in front for row
the cruel 'yapping' sounded closer and
closer, and it seemed as il hundreds of
savage beasts were at my heels; if |
could not stop them so as to gain a little
time, | must be torn to pieces in Il min
ute. suddenly facing them rs reached
the juniper, and instinctively remcm-
bcring the direction to fire low which
y0u gave me, you know, Elliot, | shot
off each barrel as quick as lightning,
then rushed on again. That ! had killed
some, at all events, was evident by the
growing and fighting of The others over
the dead ones. | knew that the dogs.
nowadays, were never known to de-
scend to the valleys until driven by ac-
tual starvation, and, also, that when
hungry they did not ,2ruplc to eat the
dead Of their own kind; so | ran on, at
the same time ro!olding the pistol, my
hope being that by firing gamong thrpac!l .
| might gain the time they took while
they stopped to deyour those which
were killed.
"liOwit WAS, don't know; / SUP .
pose every one has felt the same when
the first brunt of Il great danger has
been endured, and one remains for the !
moment still in safety; but as | ran | |
felt a reckless courage, and Il, so to speak, F..
nat to be Killed, took pos
session Of me. On | went, my pace
little ,!ackencd, for | feared my strength I.
YOull hardly hOl1 Dut aud ,.a., u,y, /