Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-11-07
nel.nehoiy cry. I would have drawn he

nelancho;y cry. would have drawn h.
blankets about Cordelia's head.
Il hear it, she softly whispered. And
10 my terror ard agony drew her closer
ip eovetous clasp.
"The sound came again. The mare
heard it also, I knew. for she gave a sud.
den leap. and then the jingling Of the
bells were changed to even strokes. She
had broken from hard trot to a gallop
My thoughts aew to the uttermost bounds
Of TIE earth in moment. and from earth
to Heaven. prayed for the safety Of my
eomganfon more than for ny Own.
woi!sS ~ ~ ssI.a sEx and the long .sil.--
quet. The moments fled .the sscsSs - ~ 3ali
denly abated but the deadly sound grew
each moment more distinct. The w;nd
swept b. Us, and died away at the righ,
no snow was falling but nearer came
those terrible sounds Every moment we
were in danger Of striking some obstacle,
and Of being hurled out.
"We were actually flying over the
ground. We could not be far from home.
but in the universal whiteness there were
no landmarks, and. alas. alas! every
yelp was now distinctly audible. The
dreadful animals must soon lcap upon Us,
| looked from side to side, expecting a
caunt form to spring against the sleigh -
Brown Bess, true to herself ard US, bore
on steadily and feetly she knew the way.
Il tried to draw Cordelia down to the
bottom of the sleigh, but she resisted.
Don't Rolfe. would rather meet
death with my eyes open. she said, push
ing away the furs from her face.
The darkness was as intense as it can
be in winter. and-Herven hare mercy
are they surrounding us? Hear the yeIps
ahead. the hungry cries. the air seemed
rent with domoniac yells, snarls, and
shrieking howis.
Remembering the short-handled axc
in the bottom Of the sleigh, I threw off
my gloves, and seized it with q grip of
desperation.
'.Withsmy foot braced upon the iron
Of the sleigh outside, half kueeled, axe
in hand, expecting one of the dusky fend.
to leap each instant upon US. The mare
wavercd moment as the sounds grew
6ercer, aud then with shrill neigh leaped
on again Somehow the wolves did not
come nearer-and Brown Bcss few along
as though she knew our lives were in her
power. The awful sounds grew less dis
tinct. and with reverent God be praised,
| strove to be calm.
'Cordelia, look Cordclia. we are
saved shouted, breaking into something
between a laugh and a cry. oh. Cors
della. look !.
The fcaming mare was dashing through
line Of torches, and the settlers sent I'D
a joyous shout, and the yeipiug dogs dash
ed about with chorus of delight.
Brown Bess, good lady. would not
pause she thought the wolves were after
her still. and dashed on, reeking with
foam to her own stable My weeping
aunt and excited cousins bore Cordelia in i,
while I felt more Thankful, to God than
ever had cause to feel.
a. But that terrible fighting of wolves
close upon us what did it mean ? I asked
later, when, before, the blazing fire, in
vain essayed to steady my shaking nerves.
And why did they not come on to the
attack Was it n miracle
L" 1T was one Of my stags.' explained
Uncle Dan. Anderson came in and said
the late unusually cold weather had made
the cowardly creatures Bold and ravenous;
and he and heard them signeling the
pack soon after sunset. We knew they
might overtake you if you delayed your
return till after dark: and SO we slew the
stag and drove out with him as far as we
deemed advisable. hoping that they might
find and fight over it while you were dash
ing past. We grew wild With fright as
time passed on, Rolfe, and arming our
selves with torches, rushed to meet you.
His plan had succeeded in saving us
good old Uncle Dan But don't like
the word prairie at all
"'What became of Cordelia, captain 2
'Cordelia? All? l thought that
told you my aunt and cousins bore her
into the house in their arms
mo evasion. Did you humbly beg
her pardon later. for ve1ing her in oppos-
ing her pet theories y
Il did that, sir. I begged her pardon
on nv knees. / told her that she had
proved in herself, by her own bravery.
every good thing she had said Of her sex. "
''Did she forgive your"
"Not exactly"
"She was right. captain. She should
have punished you severely"
"She did. Oh she did. She-mar-
ricd me! Ow-w Ow-w Cordelia, leave
me my ears leave me my ears!"