The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-01-11
WHY Old Dick Was Not Up to Time

I6rS WeIe' pun W Sie"o oio"oAo "A "o-'
The barn yard suffered to great extent IL
the way of pigs, calves, ETC., from their dep
relations, which frequently in mid-winte
we're carried to the audacious' extreme of at
tacking human beings Indeed it was no un
usual thing for the belatcd traveller to fine
himself surrounded by herd of theM in the
= woods. Some striking stories of hairbreadth
escapes and desperate adventures belong tt
this period and condition of things. vi
somewhat amusing character was the adven
ture which befell old Dick, the negro fid
dler
He was "good for nothing old darkey,'
as the word went in the neighborhood, whose
sole merit consisted in his iddling; but by
the way, singular as this merit was, it in re-
ality constituted him by far the most impor'
tant gentleman of color within forty miles a.
round. The fact is, nothing Of any impor'
tance could occur without his being among
those present.
On the occasion of grand wedding on a
neighboring plantation, some SIX miles on,
old Dick was of course expected to oflclate
as master of ceremonies. 1t had been an
unusually severe winter, and a heavy snow
lay upon the ground upon the eventtul eve,
ming when having donned his "long tailed
blue" with its glittering buttons and mount
cd the immense shirt collar by aid of which
the dignity of his official character was prop
erly maintained, he sailed forth fiddle in
hand, to dare the perils of the distant path
alone; for the younger darkles had all gone
to the frolic hours before.
The mo- was out and the stars twlnkled
away over head as the spry old man trudgcd
away over the crisp and cracking snow
The path, which was narrow one, led for
the greater:part of the way through a dark
bottom forest, which yet remained as wild as
when the Indians roamed it, and was untra-
versed by wagon road for many miles.
On he dashed with uurelaxing energy,
needless of the black shadows and hidcous
nghtcries in the deep forest. Wolves were
bowling around him in every direction, but
he paid no attention to noises which were so
common. However, he was soon compelled
to give more heed to those animals than was
by any means pleasing or expected. tie
had now made nearly half of his journey and
the light opening ahead through the trees
showed him the .'old clearing" as it was call
ed through which his path led. The wolves
had been getting excessively noisy for the
last mile; and to the undescribable horror of
the old man he could hear them gathering a.
bout him in the cracking Dusucs OH 1tvt!rr
side, as they ran along to keep pace with
his rapid steps, The woods very soon to
Dick seemed to be literally alive with them,
as they gathered in yellow packs from far
and near.
Wolves are cautious about attacking q
human being at once, but usually require
s,me little time TO work themselves up to the
pint. That such was the case now proved
a most lucky circumstance to poor old Dick:
who began to realize his horrible danger: as
a dark object would brush past his legs eve
nv few moments with swapping sound like
the ring of a steel trap; while the yells and
pattering feet of the gathering wolves increas-
ed with frightful rapidity, Dick knew
enough of the habits Of the animal to be aware
that to run would insure his instant death as
the cowardly pack would be sure to set up
on him in body on the instant ofobscrvlnS
any signs Of fear. His only chance was to
keep them at bay by preserving the utmost
steadiness until he could reach an old hut
that stood in the middle of the clearing not
great way of. :,
The wolves we're becoming more auda-
gcious every minute, and rushed at him snap
ping as they went past in closer and closer
nroS;mitv to his lers. The frightened idler
fnstinctiyely thrust at them with his fiddle.
The sudden sound of the strings caused the
wolves to leap aside in surprise. Dick in
stantly drew his fingers across the strings
and to his Infinite relief, they instantly
sprans back and aside as if he had shot a.
mong them. Taking immediate advantage
oftRis lucky diversion in his favor, as he
had nov reached the edge of the clearing
he made break for the hut raking his hand
across the the strings until they fairly roared
again. The astonished wolves stopped upon
the edge ofthe clearing with their tails be-
tween their legs; but he had broken the
spell by running, and in moment they
we're after him.
Luckily the old man reached the hut just
rs they were at his heels, and slamming the
rickety door behind him, he had time to
climb upon the roof, where he was compara-
lively cut Of danger -.
The wolves thronging the interior, leaped
at him with wild yells of gnashing rage:
Poor old Dick had managed to cling to his
fiddle through it all, and remembering that
it had saved him in She woods, he now, with
the sheer energy of desperation, drew his
bow shrieking across the strings, with &
sound that rose high above their deafenins
yels, while, with his feet kicking out int
the air he endeavored to avoid their steel
like fangs. An instant's silence followed
this sudden outburst, but old Dick sool
leaf1ea to,his increasing horror that evel
wolves are too fastidious to stand bad fid
ding, for they commenced renewal of tn
attack as soon as the first surprise at the sa
lutte was over. .... -
iaWhen the head Of great wolf was thrus
up between the boards of the roof within
few inches of where he sat, he gave himse
up for q gone darkey, and went to fddlin