The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-09-06


They left Miss A. V. Brown in peace
MORAL.
Sometimes, an innocent pretense
Is the best means of sef-defense,
And II II care-crow keeps the peace,
What need 10 summon the police !?
&C. II. CrdnCh, an 50. Nicholas for September.
A Wolf Hunt.
No doubt every boy who reads the
title / have chosen for my narrative will
exclaim: "Oh, how delightful 7"
"Now for rare treat ~ and other SIM
liar expressions. Now it may possibly
be interesting to sit down and imagine
wolf hunt, but when it comes to the
stern reality of hunting the savage gray
wolf on the boundless prairies of Ne
braska it cannot be called such glorious
fun. At least, did not consider it such
fun ut one time, and it is about that
time which am now preparing to tell.
My father and some other adventurous
persons had moved with their families
to the northern part of Nebraska for the
purpose of tilling the soil, and thereby
prepare them home for their old age.
There were only six families within a
circuit of fifty miles of us, and the
reader can imagine how lonesome l
should have been if it had not been for
two neighbors' sons, who were about my
age.
But, before proceeding further, may
as well tell our names, so the reader will
be better acquainted. The Oldest, only
&c. was Jacob Dalton, though we always
called him Jake, for short Tom Nc.
Daid, the youngest, being not quite Is,
and weighing not over 10, and myself,
who went by the appellation of Bill
Dale, although would try to convince
| them that my real name was William.
The wolves had been troubling us for
at least fortnight, and we three boys
were determined, to use our own words.
either to rid ourselves of wolves or per-
| ish in the attempt. For that purpose
we had organized ourselves into COM
mittee of three, and, under the banner of
secrecy, repair to a certain point on the
prairie, at an appointed time, and lay in
wait for wolves We knew in what di-
rection the wolves generally came-what
boy of Is would not ?-and we deter
mined to meet them, but we must keep
our plans secret, for should our parents
find out our intentions our longed-for
sport would never make its appear
ance.
At length the memorable night came
upon which we had fixed for our hunt.
The moon shone brightly at 9 O'Clock,
at which time we were to start from
home. 1 crawled out of my chamber
window with my gun and cartridges and
encountered no resistance, although /
expected every moment to see my father
and hear him shout, "Here, Bill, what
are you doing out there at this time of
night? Come into the house this in
slant"
But no such order awaited me, and,
running most of the way, reached the
point before the other boys. Presently
they came up, and l noticed they were
equipped the same as myself, with a
trusty breech-loading rifle.
What, here already, Bill" was
Jake's boisterous greeting.
"Hush," 1 exclaimed, ct saw a wolf
out on the prairie Just north of here,
about five minutes before you came up.
I expect them along pretty soon."
Lets meet them half way" suggest
ed Tom.
Cali right" answered Jake and to-
gether, always ready and willing to en-
gage in anything that would give us the
name of being courageous. "All right.
Shoulder arms" And off we marched
in Indian form, Jake taking the lead.
We could occasionally hear the bark
ing of wolf, but not one was SEEM
The moon was now about an hour high,
and the prairie looked "just splendid. +"
II any of my readers have ever seen an
unbroken prairie stretching away as far
as the eye can see, they know something
of beauties of the moon-lit prairies.
We had travelled, perhaps, two miles
through the tall grass and were becom-
ing fatigued. At length Jake spoke.
~ say, boys, let's stop and rest
awhile; its pretty hard walking, and be-
sides am not feeling right smart to-
night"
We willingly consented, and had
hardly seated ourselves on the soft
grass when noise as of hundred guns
burst on our ears. We sprung to our
feet and listened. Oh, horrors The
wolves were following up our trail, and
already we could hear them springing
through the grass. Nothing remained
now but to run for dear life, for we well
knew there must be at least forty or fifty
of the savage beasts following. Jake
shouted to Tom and / to keep together
and follow him, and we commenced run
ing. Fear lent wings to us, for we
seemed to fly rather than run.
Across the prairie, over small streams
and past small clumps of bushes, our
way led us. Each moment farther and
farther from home, and at the same
time lessening the distance between us
J and our pursuers.