The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-03-23

termined to live as long as could and 10
sell my life as dearly as possible.
began the retreat, however, with
all the haste that my physical
powers were capable of, but was soon
alarmed by hearing the bowling of the
wolves in pursuit. have always prided
myself on my fleetness of foot, as l have
seldom met my equal, but in this race
with wolves I lost ground very fast.
quickly realized chat the attempt to escape
was vain, for at the rate of going l could
not hold out long, and therefore, believ-
ing that prudence was the better part of
valor," concluded to climb tree, and
though it took me but very few moments
to reach convenient bough l was none
too quick, for the pack was nigh on hand,
anxious for fresh dish after disposing Of
deer. They drew up in line about ten
feet from the tree, and, considering the
opportunity good one, l commenced to
blaze away at them, with deadly effect, no
less than four falling in answer to seven
shots. This destructive fire did not abate
their fury in the least, and l proceeded to
draw my second revolver, when, u1lfor-
tunately, it caught in twig and was
jerked out of my hand to the ground. |
now felt my predicament to be a worse
one than ever, fearing that they wonld re-
main and starve me out, or until l should
become benumbed with the cold and fall
an easy prey to the ravenous pack. My
buffalo coat l had left in the cutter, and,
being very thinly clad, l began very soon
to experience the effects of the cold The
wolves, l believe, realized my helpless
ness, and became bold accordingly. They
walked up to the foot of the tree, which
was small one, and as they could not
reach me by leaping they began to gnaw
it down. l had been in many tight
place before, in whale fishing and other
perilous positions, and tlatter myself |
have never been much of coward; but
on the present OCCASION, with a hungry
pack of wolves methodically at work, one
after the other, gnawing away the tree on
which had taken refuge, began to feel
loose about the jaw, and my spirit went
down to torty-tive degrees Fahrenheit.
However, an idea occurred to me: | de-
cided upon plan. Taking out my knife
l cut the longest limb l could reach, and
leaving hook on the end of it | caught
hold of a long cedar tree about ten feet
/ OFF, and, as the wolves continued gnaw-
ing, and my perch got more and more un-
steady, pulled on the pole and drew the
tree over toward the cedar. With des-
perate exertion and after several minutes
OF deep anxiety, | succeeded in gaining
the cedar and took up safe position
among the branches. The wolves uttered
fierce howl and took their departure,
but did not venture to descend from my
perch until the last sound from them was
| family heard from the distant hills. On
reaching the place where | had left my
horse l found that he had got frightened
and had gone. | was about striking out
in pursuit when espied the two Indians,
who were endeavoring to secure two
young moose, which they had got into a
kind of crevasse at the base of a high
rock. | turned in with them, and we
succeeded in taking them alive and un-
hurt We carried them to Mr.. Valent's
shanty, where they will remain until we
can get them down to Ottawa The In
dams had courage enough to go back and
skin the wolves. My horse | found at the
| jobber's shanty, about seven miles dis
tant.-John 4. Gunn, in Ottopa (Cmaada)
| Free Press.