The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-11-30
CH 4SED BY WOLTES.

settled. In one of the remote counties
which, for names sake, we will call Macy
county, a stout hearted settler named
Devins posted himself beyond the borders
of civilization and hewed for his little fam
lily home in the heart of forest that ex-
tended all the way from Lake Champlan
to Lake Ontario. His nearest neigh Dor was
SIX miles away, and the nearest town near
ly twenty, but the Devinses were so happy
and contented that the absence Of company
gave them no concern.
1t was splendid place to live in. In
summer the eye ranged from the slope
where the sturdy pioneer had built his
house over miles and miles of waving beech
and maple woods, away to the dark lines
OF vines on the high ground that formed
the horizon. In the valley below, Otter
Creek, tributary of the St Lawrence
wound its sparkling way northward. When
autumn painted the scene in brilliant hues,
and it lay glowing under the crimson light
of October sunsets, the dullest observer
could not restrain bursts of admiration.
MI. DeviUs' first attack on the stubborn
forest had been over tine brow Of The hill,
some four miles nearer Owenton. but his
house was burned down before he had ta-
ken his family there from Albany. He had
regretted that he had not ''ptched his
tent on the slope of Otter Creek, SO now
he began with renewed energy his second
home, i'll which the closing in of the winter
of 1880 found him. he had sixty acres of
rich soil under cultivation at the time of
which we are to speak, his right hand man
being his son Allan-a rugged, handsome,
intelligent boy of sixteen.
The winter of '39 Was terrible one
snow set in before the end of November
and, even in the open country, lay upon
the ground until the beginning of April,
while in the recesses of the forest it was
lRt.. u
was great distress among the settlers out
side of the bounds of civilization, to whom
the SHOW was an impossible barrier. The
Devinses neither saw nor heard from their
nearest neighbors from The first of Decem-
Der till near tie beginning of February,
when a crust was formed upon the snow
sufficiently firm to bear the weight of
man, and friendly Cayuga Indian brought
them news of how badly their neigh bors
fared.
Mr.. Devins was especially touched by the
bad case of his friend VIII Inman, who
lived on the nearest farm. The poor man
lay i'll of a fever Mrs. Inman was dead
and temporarily buried, until her remains
could be removed to the cemetery in Ow-
entown, and all the care of the family de-
voved upon Esther, his daughter, fourteen
years old. After a short consultation, the
next morning breaking bright aud clear
though very cold, it was determined to al
low 4 Han to 90 over the hill TO Inman'S,
bearing medicine, tea and other little ne
cessaries for the family. He was impress
sively warned to begin his return at so early
an hour that he might reach home before
the short days end, especially because of
the danger of wild animals. The severity
of the winter had made the wolves more
venturesome and dangerous than they had
been for many years. Mr.. Devins had lost
sever al sheep aud hogs, and deemed it un-
safe for any of his family to be caught far
from the house at night.
Allan armed himself with his light rifle,
put some biscuits and cold meat i'll a pouch
strapped TO his waist, mounted one of the
strong farm horses, and set ont on his jour
ney. The road Though the forest was
better than he expected to find it, as the
snow had been drifted off, but at the turns
and in the ihickest part OF the wood, his
horse fioundered through drifts more than
breast high and more than once Allan had
to dismouut and beat path abe adj There
fore, lie did not reach Inman's till two
o'cluck and. by the time he had helped
Esther about heI work, assisted her young
brother to get III good supply of wood
and made things more comfortable for the
invalid, ii was almost sundown. He stout
ly refused o stay for supper, declaring that
the luncheon still in his pouch would serve,
and started Just as the short twilight came
on. He was a brave lad, and, with no
thought of peril went off, kissing his hand
gayy to Esther.
1t took him an hour to traverse the first
three miles, aud then he came to stretch
of comparatively bare ground leading
through his fathers ola clearing almost to
the top OF the hill back of Mr. 0evins'
house He was just urging old Bob into
trot when long, clear howl broke upon
his ear then another and another answer
ed from east and south. He knew what
that meant 1t was the cry of the advance
guard of pack of wolves.
The bowling sounded near, and came
swiftly nearer, as though the wolves had
found his tracks and scented their prey.
Old Bob trembled in every limb, and seem
ed powerless to move. Allan realized that
he could not, before dark, reach home
through the drifts ahead, aud the increas-
ing cold of the advancing night would rem
der a refuge in tree top probably as
deadly as an encounter with the pack.
Presently there came cry, shrilier and
sharper than before, and Allan, looking
back, saw n great, lean, hungry gray Won
burst from the uuderbrush into the road,
followed by dozens more and in moment
the road behind him was full of wolves,
omen mouthed and keen in chase. Their
veil now seemed notes of exultation, for the
leader of the pack the strongest, heetest,
buuoriest one among them-was within
dozen wards of Allan, who was now riding
faster than old Bob had ever gone before or
ever would again. Excitement made the
Iad,s blood boil in his veins and he deter
mined to show fight. The moon had risen
and the scene was almos. as light as day.
Now he could count the crowding host OF
his enemies and, just as he broke from the
forest road into the clearing, he turned IN
his saddle and fired. The foremost of the
mack rolled over and over the rest gath
ered arouud and tore their leader in pieces.
By the time they resumed the chase Al
Ian was hundred yards ahead with his
rifle loaded He determined to make
running fight of it to the hill, where he was
sure of meeting bis father, or could take TO
a tree and shoot until help came. This
had hardly flashed through his brain when,
r;obt ahead of him, a detachment of the
pack sprang into the road and answered
with double yells the cries of the rest com