Little Falls transcript., 1879-09-18

and his companions, catching his feet
i were barely able to draw him back II
time to save his life. s*3@ss = <'.:::.:' :,
That ended all efforts to dig thep,selye
out, and they came to the conclusion tha,
nothing was left but to wait for death i,
release them from their snowy prison.
They had food at their service, and thf
snow furnished all the water needed, Or
that the prospect was of confinement ri
weeks before the final scene.
Nearly three days passed, when Nc.
Carly suddenly started up and exclaimed
"Sh! don't you hear it2"
His companions listened, but detected
nothing.
"some one is digging down to u.s.
All listened intently, for at such time
the slightest noise is of the greatest inn.
portance, meaning more probably life or
death to all concerned. In few minutes
they caught a peculiar sound, which thew
knew was made by delving in the snow.
'eThey must be Indians y: was the exc,a.
nation of Mccoy.
'Most likely; bat how would thew
know We are here2'
A very appropriate question indeed
for the descent Of the avalanche had OBJ
literated most efectually every trace of
the miners from the world outside. The
general belief was that the parties an
preaching must be savages, and the
whites shouted with might and main.
Instantly the digging ceased, but there
was no response, and, in brief time,
the noise showed that the delving was
resumed. For full hour this continued.
and then dim, increasing light indica-
ted the point where the strangers were
laboring through the vast mass of snow.
The miners called out again, but still
there was no reply.
''That proves one thing" said McCarty,
in scared voice.
"What's that2"
They are not men, but wild animals"
"What of it2''
"Most probably they arc wolves, whose
hunger will make them as brave as tigers.
Have your guns ready, for it will be an
ugly fight"
The miner was correct in his theory,
for they were wolves that were clawing
their way through the snow, eager to pet
at the dainty meal awaiting them, and
whose location they must have learned
from the odor of the cooking meat borne
to them through the frosty air.
Mcdonald ran to where the fire was
smouldering. and caught up a brand,
which he circled rapidly around his head
until it was famed into blaze.
Just then flood of light broke into the
cavern, and the snout Of gigantic wolf
was thrust through the opening. Before
the brute could take in the whole scene
the torch was jammed into his eyes, and
with yelping snarl he leaped back
among his companions.
STILL holding the fire before him, the
miner crawled through the tunnel, close
ly followed by his friends, with their
guns ready for Immediate use.
Arriving upon the outside, they were
gratifed to discover that the wolves mum
bered only half-a-dozen, two Of which
were instantly shot dead, and a third
wounded.
The rifles were loaded without delay
but the brutes, thoroughly frightened
skunk of, and when the miners had toiled
some distance, they looked back and saw
the survivors feasting upon the two that
had been killed.
Such a meal was doubtless all they
wished for awhile, al least, and they
showed no disposition to trouble the men,
who, finding themselves so suddenly and
happily released from their prison, bent
all their energies toward reaching their
homes.
A long distance remained to be traversed
and they had most laborious task be-
fore them; but they pressed forward, and
finally arrived at White Oaks, and con
cluded to adjourn all further prospecting
in the mountains until the coming Of
more favorable weather.