The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-06-11

Suddenly to bandlnage and repartee
came fearful interlude, long, low cry
at first howl, a dying away into o
prolonged mourning wail--a sound once
heard, never forgotten.
Maggie had repeatedly heard it when
the wolves, pressed by sore hunger,
ventured within the limits of the settle.
ment. At such times she would cover
her head, and, trembling with fear, pray
that she, or any loved one might not be
exposed to such death.
And now a faint moan of anguish es-
capped her lips. Tracy turned to her iu
surprise.
"Why what's the matter2" he asked,
seeing her pale and affrghted features.
She endeavored to speak, but her voice
failed her. Then, as the death cry arose
on the still night air, with the strength
of desperation she almost shrieked:
"Drive faster faster Don't you hear
theml The wolves"
But as if in doubt, he reined in the
horses to listen.
"And that is the wolves; is it3" he
asked, quietly.
Maggie bowed slightly.
His face grew as white as the snow
about him in an instant, and grasping
her arm sternly, his politeness vanishing
with only the instinct of self preserva-
ton remaining, he cried:
''And you knew of this danger, and
yet persuaded me to remain SO long in
that cursed village Now isten," he
continued, with fiendish deiberation:
81 will drive fast. make every offort to
escape; but if it comes to the worst, and
it's impossible for both to be saved, you
shall go, and rightly, too, for not warn
ing mer'
He grasped the reins and urged the
horses on, and as they sped rapidly over
the snow, Maggie sat dumb and motion
less with terror.
Only the sledge bells-a bitter mock
broke the stiffness. She be-
gan to hope they had been deceived or
the wolves had lost the scent, when
quick, loud cry, bursting from the whole
pack, scarcely a hundred yards away,
reused her from her apathy, and drove
Tracy almost into frenzy. He cast the
reins violently from the sledge, giving
the horses, as he did so, a heavy lash
with the whip, that sent them yards
away from where he was standing.
Maggie comprehended dimly that he
would take to tree for safety. Then
her own dangerous situation required all
her attention.
And now the courage of a Western
woman Injured to hardships and dangers
of all kinds, asserted its existence. She
wound the reins tightly around her
slender hands, and drew the horses in
for brief and much needed rest, and to
calculate upon her chances for life,
without giving another thought to her
eowardly cavalier.
A faint sound resembling the first
pattering of rain drops on forest leaves,
warned her that her time was limited;
with an encouraging word to the horses
she touched them with the whip.
Away they dashed with the wind
Onl onl guiding them with a steady
hand, the wide open plain was soon left
far behind, and Maggie held her breath
hard, as they dashed with lightning
speed under the boughs of the second
stretch of woodland. Faster and faster
through the thick woods, thanking God
that the faint glimmer of moonbeams
through the dark trees enabled her to
keep in a straight road. A faint light
aheadl she bent forward to look, aud
once more they dashed out on an open
plain, the only one that lay between
herself and the village-and safety. The
first house was passed--another and an
other. For the first time relaxing hel
firm hold, she drew sigh of intense re
lief, and ventured a glance behind her
A cry of horror burst from her lips
= Never abating their speed in the least
? the whole pack Of famished animals
with loud cries, poured into the road to
: ward the village, and surrounded til,
: sledge. She felt them dash by her, ,thei
hot breath tanning her face, and with
: muttered prayer for mercy frozen ol
/; her lips, she sank lifeless to the bottom
1 of the vehicle.
/ When her father lifted her out, AM
. carried her to ahouse near at hand
friendly neighbors rubbed down til
: panhngand trembling animals, givinI
them their due praise, in having so nobl
saved their fair charge and themselve
0 from fearful death. =
( Harry and Mr.. Martyr had como ou
e Of the village in time TO see the danger
and the poor girls terror had deafene
: her TO shots fired in her defence. How
y ever, she soon rallied sufficiently to te
. i..N1 Il II 4