The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-19

ranks OF sable gentility rolling the
whites Of their stOcking.feet upon the
floor, impatient Of delay for the truth
was that he had fingered little too
long over the polishing Of those brass
buttons, and the setting Of that immen.
sity Of collar, and he first became con.
scious Of it as he came forth beneath
the neon and perceived its unexpected
height.
On he dashed, with unrelaxing ener-
gy, needless OF the black shadows and
nideous night-cries, into the deep forest,
Wolves were bowling around him In
every direction, but he paid no atten.
tion to sounds that wero so common.
However, he was soon compelled to
give more heed 10 these animals than
was by any means pleasing or expected,
He Ind now made nearly half Of his
journey, and the light opening ahead
through the trees showed him the "old
clearing" rs 1t was called, through
which his path led. The wolves had
been getting exceedingly noisy for the
last half mile (; and, TO the indesGribabla
horror OF the old man, he could hear
them gathering about him in the crack.
ling bushes on each side, as they trot.
ted along to keep pace with his rapid
steps, The woods very soon seemed to
be literally alive with them, MS they
gathered in packs from far and near.
Wolves are cautious about attacking
human being ut once, and usually re.
Quire some little time to work them.
selves up to the point, That such was
the case now proved most lucky for
poor old Dick, who began to realize
the horrible danger, as a dark object
would brush past his legs every few
moments with snapping sound like
the ring 81 steel trap, while the yell
ing and pattering Of tho wolves in
creased. Dick knew enough Of the hab-
its Of the animal to be nwnre that TO
run would insure instant death, rs the
cowardly pnckwould be sure to set upon
him inRbody on tue instant OF observing
any indication OF fear. His only chance
was to keep them at bay by preserving
the utmost steadiness until he could
reach the open ground before him, when
hO hoped they might leave him, rs they
do not like to attack in such places.
He remembered, too, that M old hut
still stood in the middle cs the clearing,
and the thought that he might reach
that haven gave him some comfort.
The wolves were becoming more au-
daoious every minute, and the poor old
fiddler could sec their green eyes glar-
ing death upon him from all the thickets
around. They rushed at him more
boldly, ono after another, swapping as
they went past in still closer proximity
to his thin legs-indeed the frightened
fiddler had at length to thrust at them
with his fiddle to turn them aside. In
doing so the strings were Jared and
the despairing negro took some hope
when he observed that ut the sound the
wolves leaped aside with surprise. He
Instantly drew his hand harshly across
the strings, and, to his infinite relief,
they sprang back and aside Us II he had
shot amongst them. Taking advantage
Of this lucky diversion in his favor, and
rs he had now reached the edge OF the
clearing, he made run for the hut,
raking his hand across the fddle.strings
at every jump, until they fairly roared.
The astonished wolves paused for mo-
ment on the edge OF the clearing, with
their tails between their legs, looking
after him but the sight Of his flying
form renewed ut once their savage in.
stincts, and with loud burst OF yells
they pursued him ut full speed. Alas
for the unlucky fiddlerl had he been
caught now, it would have been all over
with him, even had his fiddle slriekcd
more uuearthly shrieks than that Of
Paganini.
Luckily the old man reached the hut
Just as they were at his heels md SLANT
ming the rickety door behind him, he
had time TO climb out on the roof, where
lie was comparatively out OF danger. l
say comparatively, for the perch lie now
occupied was too rickety to make it de-
sirable, except by contrast with the i'm
mediate danger from which lie had es-
capped.
The wolves were now furious, and,
thronging the interior, leaped up ut the
musician with wild yells. The poor old
sinner was dreadfully frightened, and it
reqdired his utmost activity to keep his
legsfrom being snapped by some animal
more agile or enterpnsing than his con-
frcres. Wild with terror as he was,
poor old Dick had managed to cling to
his fiddle through il all and remem-
bering that it had saved him in the
woods, he now, with the sheer energy
OF desperation, drew his bow shrieking
across the strings, while, with his feet
kicking out into the air, he endeayored
to avoid the fangs Of the foe. Instant
silence followed this outburst, and Dick
continued to produce spasms Of sound
such rs q man in his hysterical condition
would naturally conceive.
This outbreak kept the wolves quiet
for moment or two but old Dick
soon learned, to his increased horror,
that even wolves are too fastidious to
stand bad fiddliug, for they soon renew.
ed the attack more furiously than ever.
This was too much for the instrumen.
talist, and most especially when the
head Of n great wolf was thrust up be.
tween the boards Of the roof, within q
few inches Of where he sat- He gave
himself up now for gone darkey; and
with the Mortified exclamation, "Bress
God who dare 2" lie fell to fiddling
Yankee Doodle" with oil his might
unconsciously, asthe dying swan Is said
TO sing It's own requiem. With the first
notes Of the air silence commenced ;
Orphous had conquered The brutes
owned tho subduing spell and the ter
ror.stricken fiddler, when he came to-
astonished at the sudden cessation Of