The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1875-08-19
redlhot end until they wore glad t,
omit Tho spok


redlhot end until they wore glad I,
quit the spot.
I must have boon thus ongagct
with my ferce besiegcrs for sevcra
hours when l heard scratching
sound on the roof, and the trampine
Of wolves on top Of tho chimney.
ran to the caracious Fireplace, and
looking up was Mortified to prcceivt
four or Ave pairs Of fierce red eyes
giaring menacingly upon me. Tht
scent OF the vonision had doubtless
attracted them to the spot. The
chimney was scarcely ten feet higt
aud had il not been for the hot em-
bors which filed the Fireplace, th,
hungry brutes would have been up,
on mo before | had discovered Their
presence there.
What was 10 do! I dared moi
use the fuel | had piled against the
door for fear the wolves might make
an entrance through it and yet i,
was necessary to keep up hot fire
or the creatures would descend tn,
chimney upon me / now though,
OF tho straw bod beneath the feather
tick, and lost no timo in dragging i,
to the floor; and quickly ripping il
opsn ] drew ont its contents, aud
threw bandfuls upon the fire. As
tho flames roared up the chimney
could hear tho wolves draw back
from tho heat and smoke, and jumr
again to tho roof But as tho straw
had hared up and the smoke ascend.
cd, the creatures sprang oncc more
upon the top Of the chimney. Thus
! kept them away until the last hand
ful Of straw was consumed and still,
~ il determined to gain ontorance "a
the cabin, in spite Of all efforts thc
wolves returned to tho opening and
were about TO spring down upon the
noarlv cAtinguishci fire. now had
20 resort to the feathers, but those
not only put ont tho last spark ot
fire. but tho scent Of thcm seemed tc
make the starving brutcs moro fcro
cious than ever
Ny fears were now becoming tor.
riblc; and despairing of keeping the
wolves longer from the house. [ cast
my eyes upward toward the beams
ovei hoad, determined as list rcscr,
to climb To them aud escape their
murdorous jaws. As looked up
observed that ! had till then forgot
ton my husbands squirrel gun. 1,
was single barrel, aud I knew il
contained only n small shot. But
remembered the effect of tho rifle
upon tho cowardly animals and
hoped TO scare them from the chin.
ney with this weapon. Secrecy had
the idea occurred to me- than acted
upon il; and cooking the gun held
it up the chimney and fired. The
pioce was moro heavily loaded than
suspected. or perhaps the charge had
been long time in il, and with q
loud report it fell from my hands
among the ashes. At tho instant
heared q growl Of pain, then des.
perate scratching and struggling
upon tho chimney, and then the
body Of huge brindled wolf fol
heavily on the hearth at my feet, and
rolled upon tho floor. My first
thought was TO recover the gun, and
with tho brooch Of it to batter out
tho brains Of the still painting orea-
ture. But seeing tho butcher-kpife
still sticking in the venison ham from
which / had cut the steaks for sup
por, I snatched it aud turned TO
whore I thought the wolf was lying
But the animal had only boon stun
ned by the fall, and recovering. had
leaped to the room. I was now alone
and shut up with savage beast, in
q little space scarcely ton fect square
I was about to drop the knife, and
attempt to roach tho beams overhead
when the wolf, but slightly wounded
and entirely recovered from the fright
OF his sudden decent, sprang upon
mo. His rcd eye balls glared fcro-
ciously, and with extended jaws from
which gouts OF blood were dripping,
ho was upon mo. I felt his hot
breath upon my face and then his
fangs closed with burning, tearing
sensation upon my bosom. was
frantic with terror aud pain, and
know not what I did. Only have a
consciousness of making, in my des,
perate struggle with a monster that
was at my vitals, more than human
efforts I struck with my knife, and
wrestled with maddened energy.
have faint impression of this, AM.
that I fell powerless TO the door, aud
experienced o sensation as OF streams
of boiling water over my bosom,
neck and face--no more.
When I camo TO myself I VAS lying
upon the bed; and Reuben, standing
over me, WAS bathing my face, while
the stains Of blood were upon his
hands, upon the bed.clothes, the
floor, and 10y the HEARTH and there
where poor Putnam, my iearloss dog,
used 10 lilo, was stretched tho manglod
body Of the huge gaunt wolf.
! This last sight recalled the terrible
event Of the past night and recover
ing my voice, ! stretched forth my
arms, and twining them around my
dear husbands neck drew his face to
nine, and asked him how I had been
rescued from my fsrooious assailants
He said hs had toiled all night
through tho snow 10 roach home, and