The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-03-21

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to hope that the wolves were to far away
by this time too hear. The next he saw
them sweeping over the plain like low
cloud, and their hoarse cries, as they in
cited eaeL other to the fearful banquet,
sent thrills of horror along every nerve
of his frame. The children ceased to
cry, even the baby hushed its wall, as
those sounds were born toward them on
the prairy breeze.
Such a race could not last long the
frightened horses were but flesh and
blood and drew heavy load after them.
"Put the child down, and shut that"
called Walsh to his wife, pointing to
the opening at the back part OF the wag-
on, through which the yelping pack
could be plainly seen.
Mutely the wife obeyed, not trying
to let down the canvass curtain, which
would haze been slight protection, but
showing against the aperture strong
box, which in a common moment she
could not have stirred.
Almost as she did so, the hot breath
of the foremost smote her as he leaped
with swapping jaws, at the crack which
remained above the box.
"Can't you shoot, Jane ?" called
Walsh again; the gun is loaded, and [
dare not leave the horses. Fire low
never mind aim but fire low-you can't
well help hitting some of them"
a sharp report answered him, Mrs.
Walsh was prompt.
There was an instant's pause among
the snarling crew, and then they swarm
ed on every side, the iercer for the taste
Of blood they had got from companions
carcass.
Walsh kept them back few seconds
by lashing them with his long stout
whip. Bnt they soon ceased to shrink
for that and jostling one another, crow.
ded upon the wretched horses, which
snortiag with fear and agony, plunged
and trampled them under their hoofs,
but sank at last under the attack.
Walsh, himself, sprang back into the
wagon and barrcaded its front only in
time to escape the sharp teeth of one of
the largest of the crew.
a orief interval now elapsed, during
which the horrid pack could be heard
snarling over the poor beasts they had
overpnwer But iJ did nut talto them
long to finish these carcasses.
Walsh had loaded and fired upon them
several times without intGrrupting their
banquet, and that done, they turned
their attention again to the wagon,
whose trembling inmates expected every
moment to be torn from their frail re-
fugc, and devoured.
But as the husband and father, stern
but agonizing, waiting that onset, and
the mother sank upon her knees among
her babes, there broke upon their ears
the shonts of men, and the sound of
shots fired in rapid succession, and fol
lowed by the retreating yelps OF their
bafiled foes. They we're saved.
BY a most wonderful Providence,
they had retraced their steps till they
had approached the company they had
SO foolishly separated themselves from
before. These had encamped for their
first night, and hearing the howlings Of
the wolves, but far from suspecting what
they were about, had sailed forth in
sufficient force to disperse them, AM
just in time to rescue their almost vic.
tins from their rapacious jaws.
The kind hearted emigrants among
them made up to Walsh the loss of his
team, and he was content to jog on the
remainder of the way at any pace the
rest chose.