Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-11-16
A Narrow Escape.
BY COL. GRAY.


} During the winter of 1866
D the writer was connected with
J a United States Survey Com
D pany, engaged in re-marking
, and stalking the international
) line between the upper British
} provinces and land belonging
to the United States, near the
Red river of the North, on ter
} ritory known at that time as
Northern Minnesota. 1t was
here that the adventure which |
am about to relate occurred.
A company of three Of us
had been sent by the chief to
explore a medium-sized lake,
through which the internation-
al survey line ran. Our busi-
ness was to ascertain how much
of the lake lay within Uncle
Sans limits.
We We left camp about 2 O'Clock
in the afternoon, and, after a
weary tramp Of five miles
through a forest, our way OBJ
structed by logs and underbrush,
we arrived on the shores Of the
lake. 1t was a dismal place.
No habitations were near-noth-
ing met the eye but the level
stretch Of ice upon the surface
of the lake, and a wilderness of
tall pines, spruce and birch, sur
rounding it on all sides.
Some time was consumed in
finding the marks left there by
a former surveying company,
and ascertaining the course
marked out across the lake.
But at length this was accom-
pllshed, and we prepared to
start for camp, being at the low
er end Of the lake, or the point
fartaest from camp. One of my
companions, whom l shall call
Leighton, had brought his
skates. 1ncyer left camp with
out mine, not knowing how
many weary footsteps they
might save me, for the country
was nearly onc-third swamps
and small lakes.
But the third man Of our par
ty had no skates. lie was a
goOd-naturcd, roiiicking Irish
nam 10y the name Of Jimmy
MCGUIRE, and was what is tech
Micallg known as an AK man;
that is TO say, it was his duty to
be always provided with al AK,
fer the purpose Of "blazing"
trees, cutting poles, stakes, etc.
Jimmy had 70 skates sc, AZ
ter strappiag ours on, it vas "a
greed that he should stand be-
fore us With his feet q little fer
ward, and braccd for eIidiRg, so
that we could push him along
as we skatsd across the foWs' OF
Gve miles of ice that covered
the surface of the lake.
1t Was coming en- Ri2tat, or
twilight, as we started off, but a
full moon vas rising, and we
did not mind it, as we had just
finished a hearty laRek of cold
ham and bread that we had
brought from camp with us. 1t
was easy enough Tor us TO at
tain a high rate Of speed, and
! the Irishman undoubtedly nc%-
er had such slide before. The
rate of speed at which We
pushed him along almost made
his boots smoke.
In less than fifteen minutes
We approached the other shore,
and here We slackened pace.
Just then we saw some kind of
animals darting in and out a.
mong the upderbrush, like q lot
of dogs at play.
We stopped abruptly, almost
pulling Jimmy over backwards,
and proceeded t9 look more
carefully. 1t was but moment
or two, and we ascertained the
secret Of the mystery, fer csc.
two, four, six large timber wolves
presently came out from the
cover of brush. Five Of them
raised their long noses and gave
vent to the long, blood-curd-
ling howl, with which all from
tiermen are familiar.
"Howly father, we shah be
aiten!" breathed Jimmy.
1t certainly looked as If his
fears would be realized, for the
wolves were apparently very
hungry, and we noticed with a
feeling of terror, that they in
tended to attack lis on the ice.
"No time to be lost, Colonel,"
said Leighton, excitedly. I'VE
must put back across the lake,
aud ,,o oround them