The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-04-30
AMONG WOLVES.

One of the most muscular, powerful,
full Hmbed settlers on the New York
frontier, century since, was ueinrick
Kaupmann His arms were like piston
rods, and he could dive his huge malIet
fist with such tremendous momentus AS TO
fell an OK as if stricken by thunderbolt
1t was said that he was once caught by
two iron muscled Mohawks, each armed
with knives, while Heinrich had neither
yet at the first onset he fractured the SIX kulI
of ihe foremost Indian, and bore the sec
ond 10 the earth as if he were nothing
but an infant That Indian never re-
sem his perpendicular again.
i II this is by way of introduction to an
adventure that Kaupmann once had with
pack of wolves, and which came fear
fully nigh having fatal result for him.
The winter of IL was AN unusually
severe ore throughout The Northern
States and many deaths fiom exposure
and starvation occurred before the opening
OF spring. The wolves, bears and wild
animals became nearly iamished from huns
ger, and as a consequence, were unusually
fierce and courageous. They came down
sheep fold that was left unprotected du>
rirg the Right. They were sure 10 be
invaded by the starving animals, and not
a sheep would live TO tell The tale.
There were tracks around the barns
where the wolves had trotted all night in
their search for some means Of entrance :;
their ho~ls could be heard tnrough the
still, cold hours, and more than one
housewife had been chased to her very
door by imprudently venturing forth at
ni4htfall
Many Of the settlers sat in the upper
story of their houses, and amused them
selves by shooting the wolves, for whose
scalps the government had standing
bounty of several shiIlings.
Heinrich Kaupmann remained at home,
only venturing forth to attend to his dumb
animals, and TO see that they were proper
ly protected during the night. But after
while, his st OK Of groceries became low,
and finally gave out altogether. True, he
and his family could live on the poultry,
sheep, and animals they owned but it
was rather unpleasant to be without tea,
coffee, sugar, salt, and many other articles
that were more necessities than they were
luXulies
BY this time, too, the roads have been
traversed SO much, that they were thor
oughly broken, and Heinrich concluded to
harness up his mare 10 his sled and 90 to
the village, about four niles distant, and
procure the articles he So much needed
With a want of foresight which he never
could explain, he started upon hls journey
without any weapon except a keen edged
Ratchet, which he carried in case the Sled
should give out. In the house hung his
trusty rifle, but neither he nor his good
wife seemed TO imagine that there would
be any call for it, and he drove chcerily
away, bidding his wife merry good by.
as his mare went at spanking gait down
the road towards the village.
The latter place which might more
properly be termed settIement-was
reached in due time, the groceries all
bought, and every thing was in readiness TO
start homeward.
ileimich had been storm bound So long
in his house that he found the companion
ship of his friends at The village tavern
very agreeable. There was SO much
70 talk about, SO much news To listen to,
such quantity of gossip Iegarding the
attal: OF the neighborhood, thar the time
slipped unc0nsciousIy by, until, when he
arose 10 90, he found il almus. dark
Still he had no fears, as his wife wouId
understand that he had rem; ,ed at the
village, ana there was no necessity of his
immediate return.
As he turned homeward and left the
village behind him, aud notice that the
dim light by which he was travelling be
longed To the moon, it flashed upon him
that perhaps he would encounter danger
b tore reaching home, and ne regretted for
the twentieth time, that he had left his
rifle behind The road, deep between e
drifts OF snow, was just of sufficient wid h
for the little mare and sled, and the sp ritcd
animal went forward at a swift gait, while
Heinrich, somewhat stupified and weary,
was brsuiled into drowsiness by the easy
gliding motion Of The sled.
He was half asleep and half conscious,
when he became sensible Of the rapid
increase of the motion of the sled He
felt 1t jerk several times beneath him, and
all at once fercer jerk than usual, ac-
by a neigh of terror, efftctually
aroused him, and he sat upright and
looked around. He looked in front all
wore its wonted appearance "a wild,
piece of wood, standing two
feet deep III snow, the narrow track twist
ing through ii !; the heavens cold and clear,
the earth white but close behind the
sled were three gaunt animals, cantering
heavily, while fourth WAS fast gaining |
behind.
The jaws of the leading wolf, owing to
the lowness of the sled, were within reach |
Oi Heinrich's shoulders. But the latter !
cared little for this. Tie brutes were
after the mare, and upon her courage and
foritude depended the escape of herself |
and master.
If the alarmed creature could have the !
nerve TO keep steadily onward in the track, !
she had good chance of eluding her
Dursuers for the moment the wolves
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