Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-10-01
THE REPUBLICAN


Wllu sports oi INV N"""f'@
none OF these was more passionaiely
addicted ttan that OF skating The
deep and seQucstered lakes of this
Northern State frozen by intense
cold. present a wide field to the lovers
Of this pastime Often would ] bind
on my rusty skates, and glide away
mp the glittering river, and wind each
may streamlet that flowed on toward
the parent ocean, and feel my pulse
bound with joyous exercise 1t was
during one OF these excursions that
met with an adventure, which even at
this period of my life ] remember with
wonder and astonishment
had left my friends house one
evening just before dusk, with the IN
tention of skating a short distance up
the noble Kennebec, which glided di-
rectly before the door The evening
was fine and clear The new moon
peered from her lofty seat, and cast
her rays on the frosty pines that skirt
cd the shore, until they seemed the
realization Of fairy scene. All ma
ture lay in quiet which she some
times chooses TO assume while water,
earth and air seemed to have sunken
into repose.
| had gone up the river nearly two
miles, when coming to little stream
which empted into the larger, ! turn
ed in to explore its course. Fir and
hemlock OF a century's growth met
overhead, and formed an evergreen
archway, radiant with frost-work.
All was dark within, but was young
and fearless, and as peered into the
unbroken forest that reared itself TO
the borders of the stream, | laughed
in very joyousness. My wild hurrah
rang through the woods, and | stood
listening to the echo that reverberated
again and again, until it was hushed.
occasionally night bird would flap
It's wings from some tall oak.
The mighty lords of the forest stood
as if not but time could bow them. |
thought how oft the Indian hunter
concealed himself behind these very
trees-how oft the arrow had pierced
the deer by this very stream, and
row oft its wild halloo had rung for
his victory. / watched the owls as
they futtered by, until ! almost fan
cied myself one Of them, and held my
breath TO listen TO their distan. hoot-
ing. When suddenly sound arose,
it seemed from the very ice beneath
my feet 1t was loud and tremendous
at first, until it ended in one long yell.
was appalled,. Never before had
such noise met my ears. | thought
II more than mortal-so fierce, and
amid such unbroken solitude. that il
seemed a fiend from hell had blown
an internal trumpet. Presently /
heard the twigs on the shore snap as
ii from the tread Of some animal, and
the blood rushed back to my forehead
with bound that made my skin burn,
and | ielt relieved that l had to con
tend with things of earthly and not
spiritual world, Us | first fancied. NV
energies returned, and | looked around
me for some means Of defense. The
moon shone through the opening by
which | had entered the forest, and
considering this the best means of
escape, darted towards it like an
arrow Twas hardly hundred yards
distant, and the swallow could scarce
y excel my desperate flight; yet as
turned my eyes to the shore, / could
see two dark objects dashing through
The underbrush at a pace nearly
double that Of my own. By their
great speed, and the short yells which
they occasionally gave, | knew at
once that they were the much dreaded
grey wolf
| had never met these animals, but
from the description given of them,
had but little pleasure in making
their acquaintance. Their untamable
derceness and the untiring strength
which seems to be part of their ma
lure, render them objects Of dread TO
the benighted traveller.
with their long gallop, which can tire
A'N ANNAAN' WI hhNNf AAN AAANtl D NlNs
they pursue their prey, and nought
but death can separate them The
bushes that skirted the shore flew past
with the velocity of light as | dashed
onin my flight. The outlet was nearly
Gained one second more and | would
1e comparatively safe, when my pur-
suers appeared on the bank direcely
above me, which rose to the height Of
rome ten feet There was no time for
ihought | bent my head and dashed
wildly forward The wolves sprang,
Lut miscalculating my speed, sprang
behind, while their intended prey eli.
ded out into the river.
Nature turned me towards home.
The light flakes of snow spun from
the iron Of my skatos, and / was now
some distance from my pursuers.
when their fierce howl told mo that /
was again the fugitive. | did not look
back-l did not feel sorry nor glad /;
one thought Of the bright, glad faces
awaiting my return Of their tears If
they should never again see me, and
then every energy Of mind and body
was eAerted for my escape. was
perfectly at home on the ice. Many
were the days ! spent on my skates,
never thinking that at one time they
would be my only means of safety.
Every bali minute an alternate yolp
from my pursuors made me but too
certain that they were close at my
heels. Nearer and neaier thev came;
heard their feet pattering on the ice.
nearer SILL until fancied | could
aear their deep breathing. Every
nerve and muscle in my frame was
stretched to its utmost tension.
The trees along the shore seemed
t. dance in the uncertain light. and
my brain turned with my own breath.
less speed yet they seemed to hiss
i"rth with sound truly horrible.
when an involuntary motion on NV
part tnr ed me out Of my course.
lbc wolves close behind, unable to
stop and as unable to turn. sipped
iell. still going on far ahead, their
Tongues lolling out, their white tusks
& Gaming from their bloody mouths.
ihrlr dark shaggy breasts freokled