The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-01

A FIGHT FOR LIFE.


limbed settlers on the New York frontiers. GEN.
tury since, was Heinrich Kaupmann. His arms
were like piston rods. and he could drive his huge
mallet fists with such tremendous momentum as
to fell an OK as II stricken by thunderbolt.
II lie said that he was once caught by two from
muscled Mohawks each armed with knives, while
Heinrich had neither; yet at the first onset ne
fractured the skull Of the foremost Indian, and
bore the second to the earth as II he we're nothing
but an infant. That Indian never resumed the
perpendicular again.
AL this by way of introduction to an adventure
that Kaupmapn once had with q pack Of wolves,
and which came fearfuly nigh having fatal re-
suit for him.
The winter of IL was an unusually severe one
throughout the Northern States, and many deaths
from exposure and starvation occurred before the
opening of spring. The wolves, bears and wild
animals became nearly fsmished from hunger,
and, as q consequence, were unusually nerce and
courageous. They came down from the noun.
tains, and woe TO the sheep fold that was unpro-
tected during the night. They were sure to be
invaded by the starving animals, and not q sheep
would live to tell the tale. There were tracks
around the barns, where the wolves had trotted
all night in their search for means of entrance.
Their bowls could be heard through the STILL cold
hours. and more than one house wife had been
chased to her very door BY imprudenty venturing
forth at night.
Many OF the settlers sat in the upper story of
their houses, and amused themselves by shooting
the wolves, for whose scalps the government had
a standing bounty of several shillings..
Heinrich kssnpmann remained s.l At home. only ny
to see that they were properly protected during
the night. But after while his stock OF groceries
became low, and finally gave out altogether.
True, he and his family could live on the poultry,
unpleasant TO be without tea, coffee. sugar. salt,
and many other articles that were more necessi-
ties than they were Injuries.
With want of foresight which he never could
explain. be started upon his 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 rife, but neither he nor his
trusty wife seemed to imagine that there would
be any call for il, and he drove cheerly away bid
ding his wife merry good bye, as his mare went
ct spanking gate down the road toward the vii
lsge.
The latter place, which might more properly be
termed q settlement was reached in due zine, the
groceries all bought, and everything was in readi-
ness to start homeward.
Heinrich had been storm-bound so long in his
house that he found the companionship OF his
friends at the village tavern very agreeable. There
was go much TO talk about. so much news to listen
to, such quantity Of gossip regarding the affairs
of the neighborhood, that the time slipped uncon-
scously by, until, when he rose to go, he found it
almost dark.
Still, he had no fears, as his wife would under
stand that he had remained at the village. and
there was no necessity for his immediate return.
hind him, and noticed that the dim light by which
he was travelling belonged to the moon, it flashed
upon him that perhaps he would encounter dan
ger before reaching home, and he regretted, for
the twentieth time, that he left his rifle behind.
The road, deep between the drifts Of snow, was
of lust sufficient width for the little and sled,
and the spirited little animal went forward at a
swift gait, while Heinrich, somewhat stupefed and
weary, was beguiled into drowsiness by the easy
gliding motion OF the sled.
H. borf xuba he
became sensible of the increase of motion of the
sled. He felt II jerk several times beneath him,
and all at once fercer jerk thaIt Usual, accompa-
MED by neigh of terror, effectuaily aroused him,
and he sat bolt upright and looked around. He
looked In front all wore its wonted appearance, q
wild struggling piece OF wood, standing two feet
deep In snow, the narrow track twisting through
il; the heavens cold and clear, the earth white
but close behind the sled were three gaunt ami
malls, canterDg heavily, while fourth was fast
The jaws Of the leading wolf. owing to the low.
ness Of the sled, were within reach of Heinrich g
shoulders. But the latter cared little for this The
bruses we're after the mare. and upon courage and
forttude depended the escape of horse and master.
IL the alarmed creature could have the nerve to
keep onward in the track she had good chance
of eludiDg her pursuers; for the moment the
wolves sprang outside to pass the sleigh, the snow
so diminished their speed that they fell be-
hind.
But should the mare. in her terror, spring aside
and plunge into the snow, Kaupmsnn knew al
was up with them. Such proceeding would dis
entapgle her from the sled, and before she could
founder a dozen yards through the snow the
wolves would be tearing her to shreds.
Heinrich leaned forward and spoke kindly to his
animal, which raised her ears that were fiat with
terror and fell into more even pace. He then
turned and brsDdished his keen.edged Ratchet
and shouted to the brutes, but it did not discomft
them in the least.
Reaching forward he patted bis mare with the
hand that held the reins, while he held the Ratchet
in the other and kept his eye upon the ferocious
brutes. However, be did not use the weapon,
for the closer the wolves kept to the sled the less
sequence there was less probability OF the terror
becoming uncomfortable, and her breaking aside
from the path.
So long as matters retained their relative posi-.
ton, Heinrich felt that all was going well. Z
II was not long before the wolves discovered
that there was little prospect VI success so long
as they remained in the track, and they now be-
gan spriDgDg aside and attempting to get abreast
Of the horse. In every instance they fell behind /;
each effort revealed them to the terrified mare,
that had no binders, and the furious plunges she
made filed Heinrich with the greatest anxiety.
One of the wolves was very large, straight
Iimbed, and showed speed superior to the rest.
More than once when he sprung out into the snow.
he advanced nearer abreast of the horse than did
the others. Upon this gaunt creature Heinrich
fixed his eye, and caught the green light that
played from his eyelids.
BY and by the snow became latter and the huge
wolf sprsng aside. The speed of these animals
is extraordinary, and he gained rapidly. Helm.
rich waited until be got just abreast when, rising
10 his seat he circed the Ratchet over his head,
and brought il down with the quickness of light
ning. The head was cleft in twain, and with dy-
ing yelp, he doubled over in the snow and was
quickly left behind.
One of the dreaded animals was dispatched I;
there were three left ss furious for blood as him.
and these never abated their speed in the least.
Had they got taste for their companion, they
would have gorged themselves on him before
seeking the horse, but he whisked of the stage of
life so suddenly that they scarcely noticed his alb
sence.
The distance from home was rapidly diminish
ing beneath the quick steps of his mare. which
continued to carry the sled at full speed until the
fear of overturning became again source OF
anxiety. Heinrich, to, had learned by this time,
that these were no ordinary animals with which
he had to deal, but sharp set, courageous and de-
termined brutes, TO which man or beast would be
alike welcome. their preference. however. as
manifested by their actions, being for horse
flesh.
These were not the animals to be frightened by
the sight of a mans house, and there was large