Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-04-10

in a moment, and from earth to heaven
prayed for the safety Of my companion
more than for my own.
The short cry and the long wall. Wolves
were calling each other TO the banquet
/ The moments fled the storm suddenly
abated but the deadly sound grew eacl
moment more distinct. The wind swep
! by us and died away at the right no snow
was falling but nearer came these terri
bic sounds. Every moment we were il
danger of striking some obstacle, 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 land
marks, and alas every yelp was now dis
tinctly audible The dreadful animals must
soon leap upon us. 1 looked from side tc
side, expecting n gaunt form to spring
against tue sleigh. Brown Bess, true tC
herself and to US, bore on steadily and feet
ly she knew Jne way.
L tried to draw Cordolia down to the
bottom of the sleigh, but she resisted.
Don't, Rolfe would rather meet death
with nay 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 demonac yells, snarls and shrek
ing howls.
Remembering the short-handIed axe in
the bottom of the sleigh, threw off my
gloves and seized it with grip Of despera-
ton.
With foot braced upon the iron Of the
sleigh outside, half kneeled, axe in hand,
expecting one of the dusky fends to leap
each instant upon us. The mare wavered
a moment as the sound grew fercer, and
then with a shrill neigh ieaped ON again
Somehow they did not come nearer-and
Brown Bess flew along as though she knew
our lives were in her power. The awful
sounds grew less distinct, and with a fer
vent God be praised strove to be calm.
'Cordelia, look Cordelia, we are saved =
l shouted, breaking into something be-
tween laugh and cry. 'Oh, Cordelia,
look =
The foaniing mare was dashing through
Il line Of torches, and the settlers sent up
Joyous shout, and the yelping dogs dashed
about with a 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, while felt more
thankful to God than / ever before had
cause to feel.
But that terrible fighting of wolves close
upon us-what did it mean / asked
later, when, before the blazing fire, | in
vain essayed to steady my shaking nerves.
And why did they not come on to the at
tack? Was it Il miracle p
1t was one Of my stags,' exclaimed
Uncle Dan. Anderson came in and said
the late unusually cold weather had made
the cowardly creatures bold and ravenous;
and he and l heard them signaling 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, Rolie, 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. thought l had told
you my aunt and cousins bore her into the
house in their arms
No evasion. Did you humbly beg her
pardon later for vexing her in opposing her
pet theories 2
4 did that, sir. 1 begged her pardon on
my 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 you 2
Not exactly
She was right, Captain. She should
have punished you severely
She did. Oh she did. She-married
me I. Ow-w Ow-w! Cordelia, leave me
ears =