Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-06
A Night In the Woods,
Win WOLVES roR COMPANIONS.


The events which form the subject OF the
following sketch occurred during a sojourn
Of three months with surveying party in
one Of the widest districts of Canada. We
were occupied in tracing the course Of a
hitherto unexplored river, which unfolded
10 US a succession Of scenic effects, such as
would have delighted an artist and poet,
and which they only could describe.
u 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 have
in my mind had all been about wolves, some
Of which rapacious creatures were said 10
be then in our neighborhood. Owing per-
baps, to my imagination having been ex-
cited by these tales, had a terrible night
mare. / 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 my
self bathed in cold sweat, aud prey to
a sense Of terror for which I could not ac-
count. Instead Of the cheerful blaze which
| had seen ere fell asleep, all was now
cold and dark. The FIRE had sunk to
heap Of red embers could not distin-
guish one of my sleeping companions
Good heavens can be still slumbering ?
There, again, is the long low, wailing how
which heard 80 distinctly in my dream.
sit up erect, and listen. What is that
sound--a rustling among the brush.wood-
some of the party stirring2 No, all are
silent as the grave. am the only one
awake in the camp. Once again Surely
| am mistaken. | thought the FIRE was
nearer. to me, Just in front; and SO it is.
What then can be those two glimmering
lights few yards Off Now they are
moving! | awake the nearest sleeper-an
American named Silas Wood The man
starts to his feet, rubs his eyes. "What is
it?" Look there, Silas." lie looks,
and as quick as lightning seizes a burning
fagot, and hurls it with all his force and an
unerring aim. The cleaning lights disap-
peared with a rustic of the brushwood--a
sharp short bark close at hand, aud then in
a minute or two, the long low wall in the
distance is heard
Siias tho. stirred and rak ed the burning
embers, and throwing on an immense heap
Of dry brush, in second the Egyptian
which leans mn six feet into the air and
hrinos the sleeping Goures and the nearest
troes into fnll relief
i" snss what does il all mean ~ asked
:. n means sou;re - renIed the Ameri.
can sneakino with his usual deliberate drawl
-" wpIvcsr
* VOLTS ewes. squire and guess his
friends warn't fur of awaitin' kinder anx.
;ons 10 boar tell of tba;r .cout Hark If
,he dsrnod ,b;ngs a;n't aoroonin' and lament.
in over tbeir disannointment as sure as nv
names silas Wood
Once more the long low howl inexpres.
s;hlv sod and fearfnl was heard M n greater
defiance Now ,ba, 7 knew what IL i'm.
nI;ed II made the blood curdle in nv veins.
"I shall never forget a wolf's how'll |
oxcla;med. "I hear3 that accursed sound
in NV dream os nIa;nlv as | hear 4 now.
RI, IVA wo mo, in DANCER ~ and beoan
mechan;callv N nile un more wood on The
bIaz;no FIRE
. "No fears now squire" replied the
} Yankee coolly; 4" the cowardy critters
/ darsn't come near fire like that Besides
I -o.Lo. Al. ell. .s.-o1 .. ..:. Al i. d.