The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-02-06

Inc sSSnd came again Inc mare
heard it also, knew. for she gave sud
den iear. aud then the jingling of the
bells were changed to even strokes She |
had broken from a hard trot into gal |
lop. My thoughts few to the uttermost
bounds of the earth In moment, and
from heaven to earth. prayed for the
safety of my companion more than my
own.
The short cry and the long wall
Wolves were calling each other to the
banquet! The moments fed the
storm suddenly abated; the deadly
sound grew more distinct. The wind
swept by US, end died away at the right
no snow was falling; but nearer came
those terrible asounds. Every moment
we were in danger Of striking some OBJ
stacle, and 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 distincly audi
bic. The dreadful animal must soon
leap upon u.s. | looked from side to
side. expecting gaunt forms to spring
against the sleigh. Brown Bess. true to
herself and to us, bore on steadily and
deetly; she knew the road.
tried to draw Cordelia down to the
bottom of the sleigh, but she resisted.
Don't Rolfe. l would rather meet
death with my eyes open," she said,
pushing away the furs from her face.
The darkness was as intense as it can
be in winter, and-Heaven have mercy
are they surrounding us? Hear the
yelps ahead, the hungry cries; the air
seemed rent with demoniac yells, snarls
and shrieking howls.
Remembering the short handled axe
| in the bottom of the sleigh, L threw off
| my gloves and seized it with a grip of
desperation.
With my foot braced upon the iron of
the sleigh outside, | half kneeled, axe
in hand, expecting one of the dusky
iends to leap every instant upon US. The
mare waivered moment, as the sound
grew fercer, and then with a shrill neigh
leaped on again Somehow the wolves
did not come nearer-and Brown Bess
In her power The awful sounds grew
less distinct and with reverent "God
be praised" | strove to be calm.
''Cordelia, look Cordelia. we are
saved! | shouted, breaking into some
thing between laugh and cry. "Oh!
Cordelia, look u
The foaming mare was dashine
through line of torches. and the set.
tiers sent up joyous shout, and the
yelping dogs dashed about with choru:
of delight.
Brown Bess, good lady, would moi
pause; she thought the wolves were
after her still, and dashed on, reekinl
with foam, to her own stable. My
(
Cordelia in while | felt more thankful tc
God than [ ever before had cause to
feel.
But that terrible fighting Of wolve.
close upon us-what did it mean ?"
asked, later, when, before the blaziDt
fire, [ in vain essayed to steady N,
shaking nerves. And why did they
not come on to the attack ? Was it
miracle ?"
1T was one of my stags," explained
Uncle Dan. Anderson came in anc
said that the unusually cold weather hac
made the cowardy creatures bold anc
ravenoas,- and he and l heard them sig
mailing the pack soon after sunset We
knew they might ovcrtake you if you de
layed your return until after dark !; anc
SO we slew the stag and drove out with
him as far as we deemed advisable, ho
ping they might, find and fight over il
while you were dashing past. We grew
wild with fright as time past ON, Rolfe.
and arming ourselves with torches,
rushed out to meet you
His plan had succeeded in saving us
good Uncle Dan! But l don't like
the word prairie a ALL
What became of Cordelia, Captain p
"Cordelia? All l thought I told
you my aunt and cousins bore her into
the house III their arms ?"
mo evasion. Did you humbly beg
her pardon, later, for vexing her in her
pet theories 2"
81 did that, sir. | begged her pardon
on my knees. [ told her she had proven
in herself, by her own bravery. every
good thing she had said of her own sex. :"
Did she forgive you p
Not exactly
''She was right, Captain. She shou ld
have punished lou severely
she did. Oh ! she did She-married
me Uw-w ! Oww! Cordelia, leave
me my ears leave me my ears -