The Red Cloud chief., 1878-12-26
CHASED By WOLV.DOGs.
New Charles Warm steadard Brels
Ms Arm ~ the Rssnss Campaeua.

Ms Arm % the kesnas CamPagna.
W. debated over black COTE. until
the last number u the conc. in the
piazza had ended in . flourish 81 trum.
pets. and then, without further he.i,S.
tion, we ordered steeds and swore we
would cross the Campagna nj midnight,
through fever and damp. spite " the
brigands and the sheep-dogs and the
black holes that line the solitary road
10 Rome. I, was IL midnight when we
mounted. The bell 81 some convent In
the hills was calling the monks from
sleep Ia prayer; the piazza was desert.
ed: a fcw friends who had suppcd with
us TODD by ms 10 the last. aud We
turn,d from them A. they stood In the
warm light 81 the cafc-the only light
visible at that hour-and departed an.
der n thick shower Of benedictions.
The long road wound down the hill be-
tween high walls and terraced gardens.
From time 70 time we passed the way.
side shrines 80 common Ia Catholic
countries. broad bars Of light fell across
our path. for there was eve q lamp Ii,
by some faithful hand and burning
brightly at the feet of the Madonna.
The way grew lonely. We set forth
with songs. but our voices were lost In
the immense, the eternal silence of the
vast and vacant land.
IL came nj last "A low growl, away
OF In the ~blackncss Of darkness; along
low. wolish growl that ended In q sharp
and vicious yelp. which was followed
by u chorus Of howls and barks that
chilled the very marrow In our bones.
''Avsnti!' cried our guide. ~ he plung.
ed the spurs into his horses TANKS and
dashed forward into the night. We
followed n best we could; followed
madly. knowing not whittier we went.
but seeking 10 keep within sound OF
the hoofs that uow Numbered upon the
road like hail.
The wolf-dogs were upon 49,
sters hat guard the iocks In the Cam.
pagna, and are the terror Of all pedes-
trians. for in their case escape Is impos-
sible, and more than one mangled corpse
has been found by the wayside in the
morning. the partially devoured re-
mains OF some belated pilgrims whose
only memorial is one of the small black
crosses that are so frequent in some
parts Of Italy. and mark the spot where
blood has been accidentally or unlaw-
fully shed. The air was filed with the
hideous yelps Of the Infatuated pack,
and the whole Campagna seemed alive
with monsters clamoring for blood.
plunged into the darkness, relying
upon the instinct Of u horses To keen
the road. Once II II we must have
fallen into one Of the bitches that fol.
low II an intervals. or have driven full
speed against the low walls that border
Of the meadow lands. and in OIL
Their case our destruction was incvita-
BILE. was following the party, bring
ing up the rear Of the procession In
dian hle-when suddenly everything
from under me. and In the next
moment ! was groveling among loose
With my horse vainly striving
10 regain his feet ut my side. The whole
earth san< nj that moment, and out Of
the chaos that followed came fearful
voices asking II ] WAS hurt. ! thought
not. but ere ] could render this verdict
\ two-cdged AGONY went c%orkscrew-
through my arm, from the
Ia the ~rst. then returned to
the elbow, where il threw out a tnou.
red.hot tendrils and struck root
and ever.
Meanwhile n pack II dogs. awakened
by the %clainor, bore down upon our
quarter. and we were in danger of be-
.ng intercepted, but with desperate
haste we passed them just as they leap
the wayside wall and struck into the
'oad. gnashing their teeth with rage nj
he very feet of our horses. II WAS a
narrow escape; one poor devil wa
struck by the flying heels Of INV horse
Knocked endwisc. and then we saw
iimly the gray shadowy forms slscken.
ng their pace. Gradually the whole
ribc retreated, the noise subsidized, and
here came the g~rstefulest season Of ST.
ence that eyer crept into my life. -San
0ronicle.