Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-04-25
A NIGHT IN THE WOODS.

soiourn of three months with sur
veying party in one of the widest dis
tricts of Canada. We were occupied
in tracing the course of hitherto un-
explored river, which unfolded to us a
succession of scenic effects, such as
would have delighted an artist and
poet, and which they only could de-
scribe.
1t would be difficult to convey to the
reader who has not bivouacked out in
the woods, the luxury of those evenings
around the campfire.
After deal of storytelling, we all
turned in for the night-that is, we
rolled ourselves in our blankets, and
fell asleep with our feet toward the
fire.
The stories told upon the evening I
have in my mind had all been about
wolves, some of which rapacious crea-
lures were said to be then in our neigh
borhood. Owing, perhaps, to my
imagination having been excited by
blGoG bdlGbs L uhu d bGIElDl0 u1SulIuuIG
[ dreamed that wolves were pursuing
me; knew they were gaining on me;
could hear their howls growing more
and more distinct. There is point of
agony at which all dreams must have
an end-I awoke with terrible start,
and found myself bathed in cold
sweat, and prey to a sense of terror
for which could not account. Instead
of the cheerful blaze which I had seen
ere [ fell asleep, all was now cold and
dark. The fire had sunk to heap of
red embers. / could not distinguish
one Of my sleeping companions. Good
heavens can I be still slumbering
There, again, is the long, low, wailing
howl which heard so distinctly in my
dream.
I sit up erect, and listen. What is
that sounds rustling among the brush
wood-some of the party stiTr1no No.
all are silent as the grave. am the
only one awake in the camp. Once
again ! Surely I am mistaken.
thought the fire was nearer to me, just
in front and so it is. What, then, can
be those two glimmering lights a few
yards of? Now they are moving I
awake Ghe nearest sleeper-an Ameri-
can named Silas Wood. The man starts
to bis feet, rubs his eyes. "What is
it, "Look there, Silas." He looks,
snd as quick as lightning, seizes burn
ing fagot, and hurls it with all his force
and an unerring aim. The cleaning
lights disappear with rustic of the
brushwood "a sharp short bark close at
hand, and then in minute or two,
the long low wall in the distance is
heard.
Silas then stirred and raked the burn
ing embers, and throwing on an i'm
mense heap of dry brush, in second
the Egyptian darkness is dispelled by q
bright fame which leaps up six feet
into the air and brings the sleeping
figures and the nearest trees into full
relief.
"Silas, what does it all mean ?" I
asked.
cit means, squire" replied the
American, speaking with his usual de-
hberate drawl-" wolves p
evolves p re-echoed. "Then those
two cleaning lights that took for
glowworms were"
GA VOLTS eyes, squire; and I guess
his friends warn't fur off, awaitin'
kinder anxious to hear tell of their
scout. Hark if the darned things
amt agroanin' and lamentin' over their
disappointment, as sure as my names
Silas Wood"
Once more the long low howl, mex
pressibly sad and fearful, was heard at
greater distance. Now that [ knew
what it implied, it made the blood cur
die in my veins.
"I shall never forget VOLTS howl, !"
7 exclaimed "I heard that accursed
sound in my dream as plainly as 1 hear
it now. But are we not in danger ?"
and I began mechanically to pile up
more wood on the blazing fire.
"No fears now, SQUIRE" replied the
Yankee coolly; "the cowardly critters
darsn't come near fire like that. Be-
sides L reckon the feller I scared SO
with that ERE burning chip has told
'em it's no go by this time. They're
as cunning as humans, is them critters.
Ay be off, and a gooy riddance to ye,
ye bowling varmints p he added, as
the low wall was once more heard dying
away in the distance.
Notwithstanding the assurance that
the wolves were retreating, [ took great
pleasure in seeing the fire blazing up
brightly, for I knew that in that con-
sisted our protection. "I suppose we
have had a narrow escape?" said to
my companion, who, besides myself
was the only one awake in the camp.
81 reckon I've seen narrower,
then," replied he. "Why that ERE
skulkin' scout darsn't have give warn
ing to the rest of the pack as long as q
single red ember remained. The crit
ters is dreedful afeared of fire."
"Well," I rejoined, 81 am not at all
sorry Iawoke when did. But as we're
the Only two awake, suppose you tell
me this narrow escape you allude to
that's if you don't feel sleepy"
"Me, squireP amt sleepy, not a
niossel. Icouldn't sleep q wink, if
tried. feel too kinder happy like to
have cotched that darned sneakin' scout
sich a lick )" and the Yankee laughed,
quite tickled at the recollection. "I
guess he had it right slick atween the
eyes. l knowed he felt it by the bark
he gave. Well, squire, it'll give me
considerable satisfaction to narrate my
adventure with the tarnel critters. /
guess, squire, it be matter of ten year
u 4