Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-03-05

20 on tonight, Col. McLure.'
What business had you to suppose any
thing about it? What should hinder me
from going on? cried my father.
Save your anger for your slaves, colonel,
said the landlord, coolly. There is moth
ing to hinder you, but there is much to
hinder n delicate woman and children.
It's not likely you'll reach Lansing until
morning, the snow is so deep, and the
track is hard to find.
Nv mother went out and called, softly,
Charles. let me speak to you a moment!
She was gentle, weak little woman:
Charles, cannot we stay here all night!
am SO tired, and the children Let us
stay; and her eyes filled with tears.
You always were a lazy little thing, pull
ling her playfully by the ear. Go; bundle
up. bundle up Well be off in ten minutes,
and be at home before nine O'Clock.
Colonel! The landlord beckoned him
aside. | did not wish to speak of it before
Mrs. McLure, but the roads between here
and Lansing have been infested with
wolves all winter.
Bah! wretched little cayotes! You know
there's no more danger in them than in so
many rats. It's only poor trick to bring
custom to your tavern, Joe.
Stop there colonel not another word,
sir!
The landlord turned away. lie was
man of much reclitude and good sense,ano
he was justly offended. 49,,
Put the horses to the coach? said The
hostler. Does the colonel know?
He does not choose to listen, said the
la ndlord; but he II be wiser before morn
ing. Hitch up the horses.
You must not think my father lnten-
tionaly hard or cruel; but he was IN old
army officer, used to having his own way,
and to disciplining weaker people than
himself.
We drove on slowly. The night was
dark and cold but my mother wrapped
Mary and me up in cloaks and buffalo
skins, and held the baby close to her
breast, and we were comfortable enough.
Snug?-ltlle man? called my father
from time to time. Feet warm, Jane?
Little Mary's sound asleep, God bless her!
It's not such frightful journey, after all,
Ell? | don't want you to think am too
hard on you.
You hard Charles! said my mother,
who could not bear that he should blame
himself. You are always right, dear.
NV father after that soon went to sleep.
He did not waken for couple OF hours,
and then only because the stage coach
stopped.
Lansing, Ell? Here we are! Why, this
is the middle of the woods! he cried,
Jumping out. What ails you, Sam? What
are you stopping here forP he said to the
driver.
Well, to tell the truth, stammered Sam,
I've lost the way. don't get the bearin S
Just right.
| Pll soon find it for you.
No, you'll not, colonel, said Sam, de-
cisivelv. You never were In these woods
before Just you keep inside, and femme
alone. This is my business.
My father was too good disclplinarlan
not TO understand the force of this state
ment. lie sat still, though impatient and
scolding, while Sam got down and tramp
ed through the interminable rows of black
pilared trunks, seeking vainly for some
landmark.
They all so confoundedly alike! he
muttered, scrambling to his seat. Eff only
The stars would come olt!
How far have you gone?
Ten mile,-or mebbe five. This hyar
snow is SO blndin' n confusin' - hest
tated Sam. Gee up now! whipping up
his four horses with a faint show of en-
ergy.
They made Il start and then stopped, the
leaders giving a neigh of terror.
Heaven help us! cried Sam. A far.otf
cry, like shril yelps, was heard. My
father started up.
Don't be uneasy, Jane, he said, quietly.
| am going out on the box with Sam.
Keep the children quiet if possible. Don't
let the baby cry.
What is it Charles?
Oh, no matter! Lynxes-catamouuts
some miserable wood vermn.
The next moment he was beside Sam.
Drive for your life. They are no cayotes,
they are the great gray wolves!
l know it they have been IN the woods
all winter
That's what Joe meant?
Yes, when you wouldn't listen!
But it was no time for recrimination
The horses, urged by terror, needed nc
whipping They dashed forward. The
coach, rocking TO and fro, dashed violent,
~ at times against the trees. The cries OF
the wolves drew nearer. They were upon
us! They leaped upon the coach, hung
upon the boot, ran, yelpng. alongside.
My father had placed pair of pistols
in Sans hands. Both men fired altern
F ately. But they had to stop to load. for it
was before the day Of revolvers.
One fierce red eyed brute sprang upon
the window, from which little Mary
escaping from my mother, had thrust ou
her head. My father fired, and he fe
back on the yelling pack below. They
stopped Il moment TO tear him to pieces
: and for that moment the coast was free.
Then they came back with fresh fury
, One OF the horses gave yell, human in
, its agony.
! It's Susy. cried Sam. They've tori
her throat The mare was one of tn,
leaders. My father drew his knife, ant
with great risk, creps along the pole be
t tween the running wheel-horses, and Gu
/ the traces and the reins of the two lead
e ers. The dying horse dropped on one
side of the vehicle, and the other leader
5 broke from him and fled through thu
! woods.
+ These two'll not take us in, sale
/. Sam.
W. huu We IL HShV cNci y HUI.
a The wolves had gathered about tn
} fallen mare. The moon began to rise
and showed their number. MY mothe
: declared there were thousands of them
But she was not in condition to coun
very accurately.
- The two wheel-horses dragged the
coach about half a mile. Then the pac
# came up again, leaped on their haunches
. and tore the poor brutes so that the fles
~ hung in great strips.
:, Cut down another horse. That will
= y keep them back ten minutes, said Sam
with white lips and staring eyes. He ha
i fought silently and bravely. But he WA
thinking now of his wife and baby.
That would be to burn our ship with
n vengeance, said my father What woul
y. we do then?
+ Bring the woman and children to tn
!, top of the stage and fight until our am
f. munitions gone.
v | have but two charges left.
! Then we are lost!
o At that moment my mother, who ha
}, not uttered sound before, cried ou
A ,,,oIc boI ln,,oJ hale ;oto IL