The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1875-08-19

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Put and I made hearty supper,
and clearing away tho things, I went
TO bod, while the dog, coiling himself
in his usual corner upon the hearth,
was soon lost in dreams, ifone might
Judge from his frequent starts, aud
tho half smothercd growls that broke
from his quivering lips Now and
then he would start suddenly 10
his feet, ~ il to pursue some iinagi
nary enemy, and thon, awakened by
the motion, would, with manner OF
vexation and disappointment lio
down again to his slumbers.
amused myself Watching his mo
tions by tho cheerful blaze ofmy fire,
till fell asleep, and was dreaming
of Reuben when ! was awakened by
an agry growl Of the dog and on
casting my eyes toward the hearth,
saw that he hal left his sleeping
place. I sprang to sitting posture
and perceived the animal with his
nose 10 tho crack OF tho door, and
with tail eroct anil bristled back ap-
peared to be greatly excited.
lspoke to him, and tho dog find
ing was awake. made oaGer signs
to have tho door opened 10 him. As
I moved toward it to crafty him, !
heard pattering steps upon the froz.
oh snow Immediately knew that some
kind of wild animal was prowling
about. Iopened the door carefully
10 let the dog out, and scarcely had
l lifted the latch. to reconnoitro, than
Put, with another growl, wedged his
nose into the opening and with
bound forced his way out.
The moon had risen, aud il was
lquite light and to my terror ! saw
the forms of at least half II score OF
gaunt wolves moving in front of tho
house: and how many moro there
were I could only judge by tho patter
ing sounds Of those could not 500. |
closed the door and pilol wool
against it, then listened to tho sounds
without
The brave dog sprang among the
intrudors, and soon Gerco battle WAS
raging between him and the wolves.
could here his smothcring growls
as he tore ut the throat Of some one
OF the bowling brutes, and thon hurl.
cd him TO u distance to grapple with
another.
The noblo fellow fought with
truly heroic desperation for ] could
perceive by tho sound that the wolves
instead OF retreating, we're embold.
ened by their numbers, and all set
fercely upon him. Yet he struggled
with determined courage, and | could
hear the wolves bowling with pam
and anger as they alternately retreat
cd from aud returned TO tho fight
But above all their cries continued
TO hear the deep angry growing Of
poor old Put, who, thus fiercely beset
by the dastards, seemed to DO match
for them all.
While with beating heart aud OK.
cited nerves l stood by the door,
listening to this unequaled fight, l
heard rush of pattering feet, com.
ing from the direction Of the stable,
and knew that fresh gang of wolves
had arrived to tho relief Of thcir
kind; and now forgot all elso in my
anxiety for my noble old Put.
II was impossible for him TO with
stand all these fierce creatures and
regardless OF the danger, | reached
down Reuben's rifle, and throw open
tho door and sprang upon the snow.
As l did this perceived every foot
OF the icy cour. was stained with
blood, and at a distanco,a dark mass
Of the disgusting brutes were gather
cd in q knot, and aercoly tearing at
oaoh other and an object l immedi.
ately knew to DO my poor, brave old
dog
Without taking time to reflect up.
on my own danger, | ran toward the
spot raised tho gun, aud fired. A
yell Of agony from two or three OF
tho wolves satisfied mo that | had
not wasted my bullet and then
frightened by the repot, and perhaps
by the fare of light that suddenly
broke upon them from the open
door Of the cabin, the cowardly AMI
mails retreated moment from the
spot, leaving number of their dead
and dying comrades scattered upon
the snow.
Where had fred upon them, lay
my poor dog, and dropping my gun,
I ran to him, and catching the faith
full creature in my arms ! ran with
him toward the house. He was ter
ribly lacerated, but knew by his
motions that he was not dead. It
was race for life, for scarcely had I
turned toward tho door, than the
wolves, seeing me retreating, rushed
upon me, growing and swapping
fearfully about me. But completely
absorbed in my anxiety for my dying
dog, ! few through them, leaving
portions OF my dress in their bloody
jaws, and reaching the door, closed
lit upon them, and replaced the bar
rioade OF fuel against IL. I laid my
poor Put upon the foor and cx-
amined his injuries; Poor follow |!
he had received his death wound and
licking my hands, as il in acknowl-
edgment Of my kindness, he soon OK
lpired.
In tho meanwhile the wolves, now
having it all their own way, wero
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