The Cecil Whig., 1874-05-16
A NIGHT IN THE WOODS.

We were occupied in tracing the course of
hitherto unexplored river, which un-
| folded to us a succession of scenic effects,
such as would have delighted an artist and
poet, and which they only could describe.
| 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 story telling, 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 l have
in my mind had all been about wolves,
some of which rapacious creatures were
said to be then in our neighborhood.-
Owing, perhaps, to my imagination having
been excited by these tales, had terrible
nightmare. / dreamed that wolves were
pursuing me; knew they were gaining on
me: could hear their howls growing more
distinct. There is a point of agony at
which all dreams must have an end-1
awoke with a terrible start, and found my
self bathed in a cold sweat, and prey to
sense of terror for which l could not
account. Instead of the cheerful blaze
which l had seen ere fell asleep, all was
now cold and dark. The fire had sunk to
heap of red embers. 1 could not dis
tinguish one of my sleeping companions.
| Good heavens! can 1 be still slumbering9
| There, again, is the long, low, wailng
howl which l heard SO distinctly in my
dream.
sit up erect, and listen. What is that
sound-a rustling among the brushwood-
some of the party stirring? No, all are
silent as the grave. l am the only one
| awake in the camp. Once again Surely
am mistaken. l 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 off9 Now they are
| moving! l awake the nearest sleeper-an
American named Silas Wood. The man
| starts to his feet, rubs his eyes. "What is
| it % "Look there, Silas." He looks, and
as quick as lightning, seizes a burning
| fagot, and hurls it with all its force and an
unerring aim. The cleaning lights disap
pear 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 burning
embers, and throwing on an immense heap
of dry brush, in a second the Egyptian
l. IL. =, 1nI ,,rI,t
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 % l asked.
"It means, squire" replied the Ameri-
can, speaking with his usual deliberate
drawl-" wolves ~
Wolves ~ re- echoed. "Then those
two cleaning lights that took for glow
worms were"
GA VOLTS eyes, squire; and l guess his
friends warn't fur off, awaitin' kinder anxi-
GUS 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, inexpress
IDLY sad and fearful, was heard at greater
distance. Now that l knew what it IMPLIED,
it made the blood curde in my veins.
81 shall never forget VOLTS howl |
in my dream as plainly as l hear it now.
But are we not in danger ." and l beg an
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. Besides
l reckon the feller scared so with that
ere burning chip has told 'em it's no 60
by this time. They're as cunning as
humans, is them critters. Ay be off, and
a gooy riddance to ye, ye bowling var
mints - he added, as the low wall was
once more heard dying away in the dis
tance.
Notwithstanding the assurance that the
wolves were retreatng, l took great pleas
ure in seeing the fire blazing up brightly,
for l knew that in that consisted our pro-
lection. 81 suppose we have had a mar
row escape?' | said to my companion,
who, besides myself was the only one
awake in the camp.
81 reckon I've seen a narrower, then,"
replied he. "Why that ERE skulkin' scout
darsn't have give warning to the rest of
the pack as long as single red ember
remained. The critters is dreedful afeared
of fire.
WELL" 1 reioined, &c l am not at all
sorry | awoke. when | did. But as we're
the only two awake, suppose you tell me
this narrow escape you allude to-that is,
if you don't feel sleepy
Me, squire? amt sleepy, not a MOS
sci. | couldn't sleep 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. 81 guess he had it right
slick atween the eyes. l know he felt it
by the bark he gave. Well, squire, it II
give me considerable satisfaction to mar
rate my adventure with the tarnel critters
| guess, squire, it be matter of ten year
agone that Deacon Nathan had raisin'
away down to Stockville, in Yarmouth,
where l was reared.
"Well, guess it were pretty big barn
that Deacon Nathan was agoin' to raise,
and SO we had considerable sight of boys,
and regular spree; and when it came to
draw towards night, the deacon he says to
me: 'Silas,' says he, don't kinder feel
easy leavn' this here barn unprotected
during the dark watches of the night
The heart Of man is desperately wicked,
and there's some loafers in the village, and
there's no end to boards and shingles lying
about, and SO, Silas, what will you take to
stop here all night99'
"Deacon,' says l, what will you give?'
Well, you see the deacon was close
where money was concerned; so he he puts
on a long face, and screwed his lips togeth-
er, and says very slow, Would a dollar
| be about