Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-04-29
THRILLING ADVENTURE.
a NIGHT WITH WOLVES IN THE
ROCKY MOUNTAINS.


1T was near the foot of the Rocky
Mountains, just after you cross the
great American desert and enter upon
ihe narrow belt OF fertile land which
lines the foot of the mountains. We
rncamped as early az two O'Clock in
the day, in order to let our animals
rest and feed, for we had been travel
ing hard all the week, and this was
saturday. and we intended remain
ing here until Monday. The spot
was wild, picturesque and beautiful,
and was upon Il small tributary of the
South Fork Of Platte river. We
pitched our tents in bunch of stunt
ed cedars, that served to keep Off the
burning rays Of June sun. Having
eaten my dinner of dried buffalo
meat, smoked my pipe, and filed my
knap,ack with tobacco, matches, and
some other necessaries that | always
carried, so as t, be provided for in
case of emergency, | threw my bul
let pouch over my shoulder, buckled
on my belt containing my trusty
knife, and taking my rifle in my
hand, sauntered away alone, up the
little stream, leaving my companions
lOunging and smoking under the
trees. l had walked perhaps more
than three miles, when II beautiful
! herd of fine antelopes sprang up from
under bank, where they had been
drinking, and bounded away over the
prairie towards the bluffs. | watched
them until they disappeared behind
II small rise, and then followed. a
walk of nearly two miles brought me
! "a. 70 ,,f ri, III, A;
up on my hands and knees, | dis
covered them quietly feeding i'm the
valley at the edge of the woods, dis
tance of Il mile away. Lying behind
a huge rock which here protruded it,
self, drew forth n piece of red tlan,
mel from my knapsack, and fastened
it to my ramrod, | waved it over my
head. The timid little animals Were
not long in discovering it; and after
gazing IA few moments they started
with the tieetness of the wind direct
ly towards me. Sticking the ramrod
in the ground, | cooked my gun and
quietly awaited their approach. They
boldly advanced, the leader coming
up within sixty yard, and turning
half around to see if his comp ,niOns
were following, thus exposing his
fsidc to me. | fired, and had the sat
isfaction of seeing the animal fall,
while the other companions darted
away and disappeared in the woods
The sun was already sinking below
the mountains, whose shadows threw
IA gloom over the prairie, and it must
soon be dark. ! was five miles from
camp, weary and hungry from my
long tramp; and, besides, | wished
To go up the valley little further in
the morning. SO decided to remain
where | was. threw the deer across
my shoulders, and walked to the foot
of the hill, where little stream
tricliled along the grass, and some
brush and clump of trees afforded
wood. Here | resolved to make my
! fire. by the time had finished my
supper of delicious steak, and drank
my fill from the little brook, and
seated myself for smoke, il was
fully dark; and the bowling of the
wolves in the distance, the gloomy
shadows of the dark forests beyond
the stream, the signing of the wood,
all conspired 10 make me feel gloomy
and lonely. The howing of the
wolves began Ia grow more frequent
and more distinct; and | began to
! feel "A little uneasy us | smoked my
mccrSchaum, and gaXed into the fire,
when | thou lht of the fresh meat
that WAS near knowing that il would
draw them hilhcr. | was uneasy, al
though had slept many times upon
the prairie when they were pruwIing
around, and felt unCpncened; yet
had never seen such AN immense
lnumher gather in 50 short u time,
aud | was fearful lest their hunger
might tempt them to attack me. 1t
( l., true was in no immediate danger,
~ there was a clump of trees "A short
distance oil, and 10y climbing one of
these cOuld easily get out Of their
rcarll; but | di,laincd to climb "A
tree nr them, and | knew if | did,
tina, hey would gather around and
keri, me up the tree all night ut least.
Meanwhile the hungry beasts began
To approach the camp fire, snutling,
huwling, and sometimes lighting and
trotting around in circle just out
side the light. | grew more uneasy,
and rose to my feet and gasped my
rifle, rs one more bold than the rest
advanced within the iirelight towards
the dead antelope, swapping his teeth,
, hts eyes cleaning like balls of lire.
HE FHiypatei instautiy in the gtWlm
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