The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-26


fangs. The next moment the ferocious
animals, with the most savage growls,
sprung at her, at me, and at the two
horses simultaneously. Hers at once
shook himself clear Of his foes and fed
and mine began to rear and plunge in such
manner that could not make use of a
single weapon, and only by main strength
kept him from running away with me.
at was terrible moment Of exciting
agony; and the instant that | could release
my feet from the stirrups leaped to the
ground with ycll--my rifle slipping from
my hands, aud discharging itself by the
concussion, and my steed rushing like
lightning after his flying companion over
the frozen snow.
"Luekily, ] had my loaded pistols and
my knife convenient TO my grasp; and
scarcely conscious of what | was doing,
but thinking only that the dear mother Of
my little ones lay fairly beneath three or
four Of the furiously fighting and snarliog
wild beasts, | grasped the weapons one in
each hand, cooked them at the same instant,
and fairly Jumping into the midst of my
enemies, placed the muzzles against the
heads OF two that had turned to rend me,
and fired them both together
both shots, thank God took effect
it could not be otherwisc-and as the two
wolves rolled bowling back in their death
agonies, their starving companions, smell
ing aud getting a taste of their blood, and
instinetively comprehending that they
were now fairly in their power, fell upon
them with the most ravenous fury, and
literally tore them to pieces; and deyour.
ed them before my very eyes, almost over
the body of my wife, and in less, should
say, minute of time.
"Ascertaining by few anxious inqui-
ries that my wife was still alive and un
harmed, | bade her remain quiet, and,
picking up my rife, | proceeded to load
all my weapons with the greatest dispatch.
"As soon as | had rammed the first ball
home | felt tempted to shoot another Of
the animals; at that moment | heard q
distant bowling, and fearing we should
soon be beset by another pack, l reserved
my fire for the next extreme danger and
hurriedly loaded the others.
"By the time had fairly completed
this operation our first assailants, having
nearly gorged themselves upon their more
unfortunate companions, began to stink
away; but the cries Of the others at the
same time growing nearer, warned me to be
upon my guard.
81 had just succeeded in getting my
wife more securely rolled up in her protec-
ing robe-ns the safest thing | could do
in that extremity-and myself, pistols in
hand, in defensive attitude over her body,
when some eight or ten more Of the saw.
age and desperate creatures made their ap-
pcarance upon the scene.
"Therc was a momentary pause as they
came into view and discovered me--dur-
ing which their eyes glared and shone
like living coals-and then, with terrific
growls and snarls, they began to circle
around me, each moment narrowing the
space between us.
Suddenly one more daring or hungry
than the others bounded forward and re.
ceiyed shot from one Of my pistols di-
rectly between the eyes, and as he rolled
back upon the snow part of the others
sprang upon him, as in the case Of the
first.
But | had no time to congratulate
myself that had disposed of him; for al
most at tho same instant | felt the lacer-
ating fangs Of another in my thigh, which
caused me to shrek with pain; and my
poor wife with an answering shrek, be-
lieving it was all over with me, was about
to get up and face the worst, when, shout
ing to her not to stir, that was still safe,
| placed my pistol against the head of my
assailant, and stretched him quivering on
tho snow also.
III still had my rife in reserve; and
pointing that at the fighting pack, pour
ed its contents among them. How many
were wounded | do not know; but almost
Immediately the space around US became
once moro cleared Of our bowling enemies
some limping as they fed, and appear
ing to be harrasscd by the others.
again it appeared to me We had met
with wonderful delivennce; and though
the wound in my thigh was somewhat
painful, brief examination satisfied me
that it would not prove serious; and 1
hastily proceeded to reload my weapons
my wife meantime getting upon her feet
embracing me tenderly, and earnestly
thanking God for our preservation.
ooh, the dear children J she exclaimed
with maternal tenderness, ''little do they
know how near they have come to being
made orphsns and left alone in this soli-
tary wilderness Let us hasten home to
theml Oh, let us hasten home to them,
while we have an opportunity"
eve have no opportunity" gloomily
replied. "Hark there are more of our
foes in the distanee-do you hear them r.
"And are they coming this way, tool"
she tremblingly inquired,
IL fear SO.
"0h, great God what will become of
us !" she exclaimed; "for am almost GER
tain that We shall not both survive third
attack"
al see but one way Of escape" !" said
anxiously. 1--WE must climb tree, and
remain in the branches till morning"
eve shall surely freeze to death there
she replied
II trust not; but at all events, as our
horses are gone, we have no alternative.
| think your buffalo robe, well wrapped
around, will protect you from the cold, us
it has done from the wolves; and as for
myself, | win endeavor to keep warm by
up and down, aud stamping
upon the limbs"
"But why not kindlc FIRE p she
quickly rejoined, her voice suddenly ami
mated with hope that was obliged to
"For two seasons" | replied. "Fint,
because we have not time--do you not
hear another hungry pack bowling ?-and
because we have not tho mater
ials--the loose brush and sticks being bur.
led under the snow.
"God help US then + groaned my wife,
iHhere seems nothing for us but death
oh, my poor, dear children May the
good God grant that they be not made Or
phans this night
az ba1c her take heart and nol aesnair.