Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-08-30
A Night With Wolves.

"a number of years ago" said an old
settler, whom | met on my Western
travels, 81 took my family to Wisconsin
and located myself in the woods, about
ten miles from tho nearest settlement,
and Mt least five from the nearest nci gh
Dor. The country around was mostly
forest, and wild beasts and Indians were
so numerous that my fricndsat tie East,
to whom gave It description Of my To-
cality, expressed great fears for our
safety, and said they should be less sur
priscd to learn of our having all been
cut off than to hear of our still being
alive out there at the end Of u couple OF
years.
However, did not feel much alarmed
on my own account-nnd my wife was IA
brave Ms n hunter; but then we had
three childrcn--tfc oldest only tcn--and
sometimes, when was away from home,
the sudden growl of a bear, the howl of
% wolf or the scream of Il panther would
suddenly made me think of them and
feel quite uneasy.
For II while, at first, tho night -scrccch-
ing and bowling of these wild animals
alarmed the children u good dcal-.and
sometimes my wife and unexpectedly
when we mist0ok the cry of the panther
for an Indian yell; hut soon We got used
to the different sounds, and then did'not
mind tllcn SO much; and after had got
Il few acres cleared around the dwelling,
they generally kept more distant at
night, just us if they comprchcndcd that
the place, now in the possession of their
enemies, was no longer to be an abode
for them. Besides, | now and then shot
one, which thinned them o little, and
probably frightened the others, for they
gradually became less bold and threat
ening.
During the first year had two rather
narrow escapes--once from a bear, and
once from panther; but the most re-
markablc adventure Of all was the one
which happened during tho second win
ter, and which have always designated
as a might with the Wolves"
One bitter cold morning-thc ground
being deeply covered with snow--so
crustcd and frozen that no feet could
sink into i'll brought out the horse for
my wife to ride toe, the nearest set
tlement, where she had some purchases
to make, which she wished to attend to
herself. Besides being well mullci up
in her own clothing, | wrapped large
buffalo rode around her, and admohish-
ing her that the woods were full of .lan-
ger after dark, | urged her to be sure
and get back before sunset, which she
promised to do.
All day long, after her departure, from
some cause for which | could not &C
count, felt very much depressed and
uneasy, as if some evil was going to hap
pen; and when | saw the sun about half
an hour high, and no sign of my witio re-
turning, got out my PISTOLS rifle, am
munition and hunting-kniic, saddled II
young and rather sllittish colt, and bid
ding the children to keep within doors
and the house safely locked, mo,uated
and rode off to meet her, which cN pee
ted to do at every turn of the horse path.
But at every turn | was doomed to dis
appointment; and when | had put lnilc
after mile behind me, without seeing
any signs Of her, | became more and more
alarmed, and dashed on still faster.
1t was just about dark when | saw the
lights of C cleaning in the distance;
but Just before ! reached the town | mct
my wife Fastening home ward-shc hav
ing been unexpectedly detained by
meeting an old acquaintance who had
recently come on from the East, and
with whom she had remained to gather
the news and take supper-the time
passing away SO quickly as to render
her belated before she was aware of it.
l was greatly rejoiced to find her safe
and unharmed-b not little puzzled
to account for my presentmcnt of evil,
which appeared o. me had taken place
without cause-though in this respect l
was greatly mistaken, as the sequel will
show.