The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-19


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abandoned. l answered every gFoWl
with q responsive scream. Terrified at
the delay and pawning OF the beast, in
creased my voice to lis utmost volume,
broke branches from the limbs, and, in
the impotency of fright, madly hurled
them VI the spot whence the continued
hoWIings proceeded. III ~
Falling 70 alarmthaahiInal, VbiChnoW
began 70 make. the circuit Of the tree, Us
If 70 select spot for spriAging into Il, II
shook, with. a strength increased by tier.
ror, the slender trunk until every limb
rustlcd with the motion, All III vain.
The terrible creature pursued his walk
around the tree, lashing the ground with
his tail, and prolonging his howlings al-
most to roar. II was too dark to see,
but the movements Of the lion kept me
apprised Of its position. Whenever !
heard It op one side Of the tree IspeedllyI
changed to the opposite -an exercise
which, in my weakened state, | could
only have performed under the impulse
Of terror lwould alternately sweat and
thrillMijh horror at the thought Of beng
torn 10 pieces and deVoured BY this Tor
midable monster, All my attempts to |
frighten 1t seemed unavailing. Disheart'
ened at its persistency, and expect
ing every moment 1t would take
The deadly leap, l tried to col
lect INV thoughts, and prepare for the
fatal encounter which knew must re
sult. Just at this moment 1t occurred to
mo that would try silence. Clasping |
the trunk oil the tree with both arms,
sat perfectly still. The'hon, at this time
ranging round, occasionally snuillug and |
pausing, and all tho while filling the for.
est with the echo OF his howlngs, sud |
denly initiated my example. This silence
was more terrible, ii possible than the
CHATTER aud crash OF his movements
through tho brushWOod, for now ! did
not know from what direction to expect
his attack, Moments passed with me
like hours. Ailer lapse of time which
cannot estimate, tho beast gave spring
into the thicket and ran screaming into
the forest. My deliverauCe was effected
Had strength permitted, should have
retained my perch till daylight, but with
the consciousness Of escape from the
jaws of tho ierocious brute came
a sense oil Oyerpowerlng weak
ness which almost pnlsied me
and made my descent nom the tree both,
difficult and dangerous, Incredible as 1t
may seem, | lay down in my old bed,
and was soon lost in siumber SO pro.
found that did not awake until alter
daylight The experience oil the night
seemed like II terrible dream; but the
broken limbs which in the agony Of con.
sternation | had thrown from tie, tree,
and the riffs made In the fallen foliage byl
my visitant in his Recommendations,
were too convincing evidences OF lts.rO.
atty. I could not dwell, upon my ex-
pOsure and escape without shudderng,
and rejecting that probably like pGrils
would often occur under less fortunate
circumstances, and with Il more fatal Is.
sue wondered what late was In reserve
Tor mG-whethCr | would ultimately sink
from exhaustion and perish OF starvation,
or become the prey Of some OF the ierO'
CiOus animals that rOamGd these vast fast.
nessGs. My thoughts then turned to the
loved ones at home. They could never
know my fate, and would indulge thou.
sand conjeCtures concerning 1t, not the
least distressing OF which would be that
had been captured by a band Of hostile
Sioux, and tortured 10 death ut the stake.
was reused from this train Of rellec.
tons by marked change In the AtmOs.
phere. One Of those dreary storms Of
mingled snow and rain, common to these
high latitudes, set in, My clothing, which
had been much torn, exposed my person
10 It's "pitiless pcltings." An easterly
wind, rising to u gale, admonished Inc
that II would be furious and Of long dura.
ton. None of the discouragements had
met with dissipated the hope OF rejoining
my friends; but fOreseelng the delay, now
unavoidable, knew that my escape from
the wilderness must be accomplished, II
at all by my own unaided eXertiOns This
thought was terribly affecting and brought
before me, in vivid array, all the dreadful
realities of my condition. could see no
ray Of hope. In this condition of mind
could find no better shelter than The
spreading branches Of aspruce tree, under
which, covered with earth and boughs, |
lay during the two succeeding days; the
storm, meanwhile, raging with undated
violence. While thus exposed, and sui.
fering from cold and hunger, little be.
num6ed bird, not larger than a snow.
bird, hoped within my reach. INSTANTLY
seized and killed 1t, and, ,pluCklng It's
feathers, ate 1t raw. 1t was delicious
meal for a halfstarved man.
Taking advantage Of hull in the elc.
ments, on the morning Of the third day
rose early and started In the direction Of
q large group Of hot springs which were
Under the shadow OF Mount
Everts. The distance that l Travelled
could not have been less than ten miles.
Long before | reached the wonderful
cluster OF natural CaldrOns, the storm had
recommended. Chilled through, withmy
clothing thoroughly saturated, ! lay down
under tree upon the heated incrustation
until completely warmed. My heels and
sides of my leet were frozen. As soon rs
warmth permeated my system, and had
quoted my appetite with few thistle.
roots, / took survey otmy surroundings,
and selected d spot between two springs,
sufficiently asunder to afford heat at my
head and feet. On this spot | built a
bower of pine branches, spread It's incrus.
ted surface with fallen foliage and small
boughs, and slowed myselfaway to await
the close OF the storm. Thistles were
and had fed upon them long
enough to realize that they would, for a
while at least, sustain life. In convenient
to my abode was . small round,
boiling spring, which called my
dinner pot, and in which, from