The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-07-31
A NIGHT WITH WOLVES.

And Mr.. Baxter was no more,
NIGHT WITH WOLVES.
GA number of years ago." said an old
settler, whom | met on my western
travels, II took my family to Wisconsin,
and located myself in the woods. about
ten miles from the nearest settlement, and
at least five from the nearest neighbor.
The country round was mostly forest; and
wild beasts and Indians were so numer-
Gus, that my friends at the east, to whom
| gave a description of my locality, ex-
pressed great fears, for our safety, and
said they should be less surprised to learn
of our having all been cut off than to hear
Of our still being alive out there at the
end of couple of years.
"Howevcr, | did not tcel much alarmed
on my own account-and my wife was as
brave as a hunter; but then we had three
caildren-the oldest only ten-and some
times, when was away from home, the
Sudden growl of a bear, the howl Of a
wolf or the scream ola panther would
make me think of them, and feel quite
uneasy.
"For while, at first, the night-screech-
ing and howling of these wild animals
alarmed the children a good dcal-and
sometimes my wife and unexpectedly
when we mlstook the cry of the panther
for an Indian yell; but we soon cot used
to the different sounds, and then did not
mind them so much; and after | had got
few acres cleared around the dwelling,
they generally kept more distant at nj ght
Just as if they comprehendcd 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 little, and probably
frightened the others, for they gradually
| became less bold and annoying.
During the first year I had two rather
narrow escapcs-once from Il bear, and
once from panther; but the most re-
markable adventure of all was the one
which happened during the second win
ter and which l have always designated
as Night with the Wolves
zone bitter cold morning-the ground
being deeply covered with snow, SO
crustcd ana frozen that no feet could sink
into i'll brought out the horse for my
wife to ride to c., the nearest settle
ment, where she had some purchases to
make, which she wished to attend to her
self. Besides being we'll mutfled up in
her own clothing, l wrapped large but-
falo robe around her; and admonishing
her that the woods We're full of danger
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 account,
felt very much depressed and uneasy, as
if something evil were going to happen
and when | saw the sun about half an
hour high, and tho signs of my wife re-
turning, I got out my pistols, rifle, am
munition and hunting knife, saddlcd a
young and rather skittish colt, and bid
ding the children keep within doors, and
the house safely locked, mounted and
rode off to meet her, which expected to
do at every turn of the horsc-path. But
at every turn l was doomed to disap-
pointmcnt; and when I had put mile af-
ter mile behind me, without seeing any
signs Of her, became more and more
alarmed, and dashed on still faster.
at was just about dark when saw the
lights of G. cleaning in the distance
but before l reached the town I met my
wife Fastening homeward-shc having
been unexpectedly detained by meeting
an old acquaintance, who had recently
come on from the eastward, and with
whom she had remained to gather the
news and take supper-thc time passing
away so quickly as to render her belated
before she was aware of 1T.
81 was greatly rejoiced to find her safe
and unharmed-but not little puzzled
to account for my presentiments Of evil
which it appeared to me had taken place
without cause though in this respect
was greatly mistaken, as the sequel will
show.
'We now set off at a brisk trot home
ward--th through a dense, dark, gloomy
wood which lined our way on either side
and had safely proceeded about five
miles, when we were somewhat startled
by series of long, -plaintiye. howls, at q
considerable distance, and in different
directions, and which our experience told
us were wolves, seemingly calling and
answering each other through the great
forest. ..- ...-,
''The wolves of this region were of tho
larger and tiercer spices; and though
ordinarily and singly they might not at
tack a human being, yet in numbers and
pressed by hunger, as they generally
were at this season Of the year, l by NJ
means felt certain that we would not be
molested.
accordingly we quickened the pace
of our horses and as we hurried on / grew
every moment more uneasy and alarmed
as noticed that many of the sounds grad
ually approached us. We had just en-
tered deep hollow, where a few large
trees stretched their huge branches owe
dense thicket, when suddenly there
arose several loud, harsh, baying ant
!; snarling sounds close at hand. The mex
moment there was a quick rustllng an(
J thrashing among the bushes; and thel
some SIX Or eight large wolves---lean
, gaunt and maddened with hunger
sprang into the path close beside us.
"This happened SO unexpectedly tha
: my wife gave slight scream and dropped
, the rein; and the horse rearing and plung
r ing at the same moment, unseated her
and she fell to the ground, right in tn