The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-12-18
Chased by Wolves.
BY NJ. DONALDSON.


ming to skate on the Kennebec, in Maine, by
moonlight, and having ascended that river
nearly two miles, turned into a little stream TO
espIoresits course Fir and hemlock Of CEN
tury's growth met overhead, and formed an
arch-way radiant and frostwork. All was dark
within but was young and fearless; and, as
bpeered into an unbroken forest that reared
itself on the borders of the stream, I laughed
with very ioyness; my hurrah rang through
the silent woods, and stood listening to the
echo that reverberated again and again, until
it was hushed. Suddenly q sound arose /;
itseemed 70 me to come from beneath the ice /;
it sounded low and tremulous at first, until 1t
ended in low, wild yell. was appalled,.
Never before had such noise met my ears.
thought it more than mortal; so herce, and
amid such an unbroken solitude, it seemed as
though from the tread of some brute animal {;
and the blood rushed back to my forehead with
a bound that made my skin burn, and felt re-
lieved that had to contend with things earth
II and not spiritual; my energies returned,
ari looked around for some means of escape.
AS turned my head to the shore, could see
tooIobiects dashing through the underbush at a
pace nearly double in speed to my own. By
this rapidity, and the short yells they occasion
ally gave, Ii knew at once that these were
the much dreaded grey wolf
I had never met these animals; but, from
the description given of them, had very little
pleasure in making their acquaintance. Their
untameable 6erceness, and untiring strength
which seems part of their nature, render them
objects of dread to every benighted traveller.
There was no time for thought; so | bent
my head and dashed madly forward. Nature
turned me toward home. The light flakes OF
snow spun from the iron Of my skates, and
yhpnra
their fierce howl told me was their fugitive. I
did not look back !; did not feel afraid, or sor-
Ey, or.eysn glad; one thought of home, of the
bright faces awaiting my return, OF their tears
if they should never see me again; and then
every energy of body and mind was exerted for
escape. ] was perfectly at home on the ice.
Many were the days that had spent on my
good skates, never thinking that at one time
thew would be my only means of safety. Eve
nv half minute an alternate yelp from my Zero
eious followers told me too certainly that they
were in close pursuit.
Nearer and nearer they came heard their
feet pattering on the ice nearer still, until L
could feel their breath and hear their snufling
scent. Every nerve and muscle in my frame
was stretched to the utmost tension. The trees
along the shore seemed to dance in the uncer-
tain light, and my brain turned with my own
breathless speed, yet still they seemed to hiss
forth their breath with sound truly horrible,
when an involuntary motion on my part turned
me out of my course. The wolves, close be-
hind, unable to stop, and as unable to turn on
the smooth ice, slipped and fell. still going on
far ahead their tongues were lolling out, their
white trsks glaring from their bloody mouths,
their dark, shaggy breasts were feeced with
foam; and as they passed me- their eyes glared,
and they hoWled with fury.
The thought flashed on my mind that by this
means I could avoid them-namely, by turning
aside whenever they came too near for they,
by the formation of their feet, are unable to
nun on the ice, except in straight line.
At one time, by delaying too long, my sam
culinary antagonists came so near that they
hhrew the white foam over my clothes as they
sprang to seize me, and their teeth clashed to-
gether like the spring of fox-trap.
Had my skates failed for one instant-had /
tripped on stick, or caught my foot in is-
sure in the ice, the story l am now telling
would never have been told.
/ thought all the chances were over. knew
where they would take hold of me if fell l
thought how long it would be before l died ;
and then there would be search for the body
that would already have its tomb; for oh !!
how fast mans mind traces out all the dread
colors Of deaths picture, only those who have
been so near tne grim original can tell
But / soon came opposite the house, and my
the noise, bayed furiously from the kennels.
heard their chains rattle how I wished they
would break them and then I should have
protectors that would be equal to the 6ercest
denizens of the forest. The wolves, taking the
hint conveyed by the dogs, stopped in their
mad career, and after moments considera-
tion, turned and fed. I watched until their
dusky forms disappeared over neighboring
hill then taking off my skates, wended my
way to the house with feelings that may be
better imagined than described. But even yet
I never see broad sheet of ice in the moon
shine without thinking of the snufiing breath
closely down the frozen Kennebec.
DoN'T GET OvERHEATED.-Cooling off sud
ofo g.