The Cecil Whig., 1874-05-16

kinder desperate chap, or he wouldn't have
axed you
why man alive" says l, 'twhar's the
danger to come from9''
Why says Dave, FAINT you aheerd
there's been wolves seen in the neighbor-
hood? Didn't the deacon tell you as how
he lost two sheep only the night afore last
You darsn't make fire, cause of the shay
ings; and the barn amt boarded up
"Dave," says |, don't you think to
pull the wool over my eyes that fashion,
and then have it to say you circumvented
Silas Wood l reckon l can read you as
easy as IL book You'd like to arm them
two dollars yourself Well, now, I'll tell
you what I'll do with you. Two's COM
pany; if you like to stop with me, you're
welcome; and don't care if l share the
brass into the bargain
"'Says Dave: L wouldn't stop night
in this here barn as it is, not for five
hundred dollar bill. Remember, Silas, I've
warned you as friend; and away he went.
"Well, squire, l warn't goin' to let Dave
scare me, cause knowed he was sweet on
gal called RIM Parkins, that I we're
keepin' company with, and would have
been considerable rejoiced to have it tell
how had funked; and as hadn't heerd
tell of wolves in them parts, jest thought
he said that by way of banter.
"Well, l made myself comfortable in
the barn. 1t was all boarded up on three
sides, and partly on the fourth; only there
was gap left for the door, big enough to
let in a wagon-load of hay. 1t wasn't
cold, bein' a fine night in the Indian sum-
mer. So kept strollin up and down.
takin' y look out now and agin, to see if
there was anybody lurkin' about with an
eye to the boards and shingles, but there
warn't soul stirrin' but myself. Every
now and agin, I'd mix myself a little grog,
till the rum was all gone, and then began
to feel most everastin' sleepy; so thought
I'd jest lay down awhile on big pile of
shavings there was in one corner of the
barn. Well, squire, dropped off, as you
may suppose; and I guess it were along of
what Dave Shunyser said got to dreamin'
about wolves, till at last, blame me if
didn't dream there was one in the barn
huntin' about jest like dog, snffin' here
and there, till at last he came to the pile of
shavings where was.
"Well, squire, | can't call to mind how
| woke exactly, but the fust thing l re-
member was sittin' right up on the pile
of shavings, tryin' to make out as well as
could in the dark if there was anything
in the barn or not. 1t was about minute
before | could see clearly; but at last
heard a slight rustic. and thought l saw
somethin' move. Thinks /, that's Dave
Shunyser, or some of the boys, come back
to frighten me. They shan't have it to
crow over me. So | sings out, Is that
you, Dave?' There was no answer, but |
heard a rustlin' and patter jest like a
dogs paws, and l could see the critter,
whatever it was, crawlin' towards the gap
in the boards. Then it stopped, and
kinder turned its head and l cotched sight
of two twinklin' lights, and, thinks I, it's
stray dog; when the critter give spring
out of the barn, and sot up howl.
esquire, l shouldn't have ben scared
with one wolf, but that howl was answered
from the woods, maybe a quarter of a
mile off, by another, which knowed could
IF 1ac
than fifty hungry beasts. Well, squire, |
was awful scared, and that's fact; but |
guess if I'd a lost my presence of mind, it
would ha' been all up with me in about
five minutes. I knowed | hadn't mo
ment to lose, cause l heered the howl
comm nearer and nearer; and the yelp,
yelp, of the sentinel wolf outside calling
them to their prey! My first idea was to
set fire to the shavings. l out with my flint
and steel, but the spunk wouldn't light,
and not one of the shavings would cotch.
The howls kept camin' higher and higher.
Then began to think was gone. There
was an axe in the barn, but what could ]
do agin fifty wolves9 and in the dark,
where they couldn't see my eyes to daunt
them.
81 clenched it. however, and determined
to sell my life dearly, when all to oncet,
Just when I'd given up all hope, felt some
t hing touch agin my head-it was rope as
ha d ben fast to one of the rafters. guess
squire, if that ere rope had ben foot
shorter, I'd not been here now tellin' this
story, The way I went up that rope, hand
over hand, was caution. And I'd barely
swung myself on the rafter, and began
Iashin' myself to the beam with the rope
when, Suuire-it makes my blood run cold
to tell of 1.-THE barn was alive with
wolves, yelpin', leapin', anu fallen ovel
each other. l could hear then routln
among the shavings; and in minute they
had them all spred over the barn h,'or
Then they began to muzzle in the earth
and scratch up the mould with their paws.
"At last one of 'em scented me, and
told the others with a yelp. Then, of all
the wells | ever heard squire, l most
swooned away; and if l hadn't lashed
myself to the rafter, I'd ha' fell right
down among 'em. Oh, such a yell never
heerd afore, and hope I'll never hear agin
Though | knowed they couldn't get at me,
it was dreedful to be there alone in the
dead of the night, with pac.t of hungry
wolves lickin' their slaverin' jaws, and
thirstin' for my blood. They ran round
and round the barn, and leaped on to each
others backs, and sprang into the air; Ut
it was no use; and at last began to get
kinder easy, and l looked down on the
howliu' varmints, and bantered them
Squire, you'd ha' thought they understood
a feler. Every time | hollered and shook
my fist at them, they yelled and jumped
louder than ever. For all this, l warn't
sorry when it begun to grow little lighter;
and about half an hour before dawn they
begin to see it was no use; SO they give me
one long, loud farewell howl afore they
went. But, squire, the most curious part
OF the story has got to come. Some time
afore they went, it had grovIed so light
could see 'em quite plain; and an ugly set
of beasts they was, and no mistake. Well,