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

again dash onward toward no definite
point.
At length we spied a small grove
which, we judged, fringed the banks of
a stream. We determined to reach il il
possible, but there was not much of a
show for us, as the pack of blood thirsty
wolves were not over forty yards behind
us. while the grove was at least five
miles away.
Jake was few feet in advance of Tom
and /, and we were running in the path
he made. All at once Tom stopped and
said:
"Bill, can't run any longer. You
can run ahead. and you and Jake can
reach the woods"
paid no heed to his words more than
to call Jake, who came running back
asking what was the matter. The wolves
were now almost upon US, and, bringing
up my gun, took aim at the foremost
of the hungry pack and fired. The shot
took effect, and the wolf rolled on the
ground. The rest paused to devour
their fallen comrade, and Jake handed
me his gun, and then, taking Tom in his
arms, away we went again.
1t took but moment for the hungry
pack to devour the fallen wolf, and
again we could hear them coming nearer
and nearer.
"They are close upon us" 1 shouted
to Jake, as big wolf snapped at my
heels. Turning fred into the swaying
crowd, and, although did not wait to
see if the shot took effect, thought it
pnuat no tho xuoIuao ha.S ofA,,xNa1 fNhara
were at least forty of them, and thought
they looked fierce enough.
hope never to witness another such
night as that. l can almost see them
now, leaping through the tall grass,
with their sparkling eyes coming nearer
and nearer.
Again and again fired into the savage
pack, and each time they would pause to
devour the fallen one.
How we ever reached the point of
safety cannot tell, but we found our
selves under the trees, and had barely
time to catch the lower limbs and swing
ourselves up when the savage crowd was
| beneath.
There they sat during the remainder
of the night looking at us, and occasion
ally uttering low, angry growl. When
the first gray light of day made its APP
pearance the wolves one by one went
away, and we slid down from our place
of refuge, and, each selecting spot, lay
down to rest and sleep.
was the irst to awake, and my sur
prise was great to find that the sun was
gradually sinking in the west. awoke
Jake and Tom, and we began looking
about for something to satisfy our hun
ger. / espied a fat buffalo, and in a
short time brought him down, and, cut
ting out what meat thought we would
want, wendell my way back where the
boys already had fire. Weroasted the
meat, and then, half starved, devoured
it with eagerness. We had little left
over, and concluded to keep it, as we
might need it before getting home.
Then began debate as to the direc-
ton we should take to reach home.
Jake being the Oldest of course took the
lead, and, after that worthy had looked
around over the prairie several minutes,
he said:
"Boys, think if we follow down this
stream we will come to John Wilson's
place, and that is three miles from
fathers"
"Why do you think we had best go
dOUn the stream? Why not go up?" l
asked.
Because if we go up of course the
stream will keep getting narrower, and it
is not as wide here as it is at Wilson's.
And then we came from nearly the same
direction as this stream flows"
Il am not sure" said Tom. CT was
thinking we came plump up against this
creek. That is, it laid right across our
path"
"That may all be-" answered Jake;
"but when we saw this place we turned
and took an angle of about forty-five
degrees"
81 think we had best go up the
stream" said I; "for 1 am pretty sure
we came in that direction, and besides
this creek is deeper here than it is at
Wilson's if it is not wide"
"Ive nothing to say against each OF
you taking whichever way you choose,
but for me shall go down the stream
until l am convinced 1 am right OF
wrong, and you can follow me if you
wish. You don't suppose 1 have lived
out here for eight months and know
every nook and corner of this prairie, to
get lost by two such numbskulls as you
and Tom, do you"
This ended all the opposition we coulG
wish to put forth, and soon we were
ready for tramp toward home. Oh
course we did not wish to confess that
we were lost, yet knew that even Jake,
who prided himself ON knowing the
cardinal points, no matter where lie
might be, had to look at the sun to de.
termine which way was west.
remained firm in my belief that we
should have travelled west; Tom said we
should, by good rights, have gone
south but Jake said he was sure we
ought to go east, or nearly so, and that
he should follow the course of the stream
for that would surely take him to some
place of civilization. We both agreed
with him in regard to the last, yet we
did not like the idea of another night on
the prairie among the savage beasts.
At length the shadows deepened, and
we made preparations for camping fol
the night. We built large fire from
the dried limbs scattered about to KEEP
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