Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-07-31

"Ascertaining by a few anxious lnqulr-
les that my wife was still alive and I'M
harmed, I babe her remain quiet, and,
picking up my rifle, I proceeded to load
all my weapons with the. greatest dis
patch. @@
"As soon as I had rammcd the first ball
home felt tempted to shoot another of
the ANIMALS; but at that moment I heard
distant bowling and fearing that we
should soon bc bcset by another pack, I
reserved my fire for the next extreme
danger and hurriedly loaded the others.
''By the time I 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.
II had just succeeded in getting my
wife more securely rolled in her protect
ing robe-as 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
savage and desperate creatures made
1AASAA "PPoo1duC0 pun lllc oCCuo.
''There was momentary pause as they
came into view and discovered me-dur-
ing which their eyes glared and shone
like living coals-ana then with terrific
growls and snarls, they began to circle
round me, each moment narrowing the
space between US.
"Snddenly one more daring or hungry
than the others bounded forward and re-
ceived 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 I had no time to congratulate
myself that I had disposed of him; 70,
almost at the same instant I felt the lace
rating fangs of another In my thigh
which caused me to shrek with pain
and my poor wife, with answering shrek
believing it was all over with me, was
about to get up and face the worst, when
shouting to her not to stir, that l was
still safe, I placed my pistol against tho
OF my assailant, and stretched him quiv.
ering on the snow also.
81 still bad my rifle in reserve; and
pointing that at the fighting pack,
poured its contents among them. How
many were wounded I do not know; but
almost immediately the space arounc
us became once more clear OF our howl
ing enemies some limping as they fled
and appearing to be harassed by the 9th
ers.
"Again it appeared to me we had mel
with a wonderful deliverance; axc
though the wound in my thigh was some
what painful, a brief examination salts
fed me that it would not provo serious
and hastily proceeded to reload my
weapons-my wife meantime getting up
on her feet, embracing me tenderly, anc
thanking God for our preservation.
"'Oh, the dear children ~ SHE exclaimed
with maternal tenderness; little do the,
know how near they have come to being
made orphans, and left alone in this soil
tary wilderncss Let US hasten home tt
them! Oh, let us hasten home to them
while we have opportunity
"'Wc have no opportunity 1 gloomily
replied. 'Hark! there ale more of ou1
foes in the distance-do you hear them?'
"sAnd they are coming this way, to?
she tremblingly inquired.
81 fear So
"'Ob, great God! what will become Of
u.s.! she exclaimed; for I am almost Ger
tain that we shall not both survive thirC
attack
"'l see but one way of escape said I
anxiously. I'VE must climb a tree, anG
remain in the branches till morning.
"'We shall surely freeze to death there
she replied.
"'l trust not; but at all events, as GU
horses are gone, we have no alternative
l think your buffalo robe, we'll wrapped
around, will protect you from the cold
as 1t has done from the wolves; and a
for myself, I will endeavor to kee . warn
by climbing up and down, and stamping
| upon the limbs.'
"'But why not kindle freq sh,
quickly rejoined, her voice suddenly ami
mated with hope that was obliged t,
disappoint
"'For two. reasons l replied. First
because we have not time-do YOU no
hear another hungry pack bowling? -an'
| secondly, because we have not the mate
rails, the loose brush and sticks bein,
Durled under the snow
"'God help us, then! groaned my wife
there seems nothing for us but death
Oh, my poor, dear children! May tn
good God grant that they be not made or
phans this night
II babe her take heart and not despair
and then selecting large tree, who's
lower limbs were broad and thick, bu
above the reach of our enemies. hastil,
assisted her to good foothold, and i'm
medlatcly climbed up after her
"We were not there moment too soon
for scarcely had we got ourselves settled
| in comparatively comfortable position
when another hungry pack of our enc
mics appeared below us, bowling, snar
ling and fghting-their upturned eye
occasionally glowing fealfully in tn
"But we were safe Fl om their reach ant
all that long, dismal night we remained
there listening to the discoruant tones
and thinking of the dear ones at home.
"The night was intensely cold; and il
spite ofall my efforts to keep my slug
gish blood in circulation, I became so be
numbed before morning that I believe
should have given up and persisted, ex
cept tor the pleading voice of my wife
who begged me, tor God sake, to holl
out, and not leave her widow and my
children fatherless.
daylight at last; and never was morr
hailed with greater joy. Our foes nov
skunk away, enc by one, and left us t.
ourselves; and few minutes after thei
disappearance got down and exercised
myself violently; and having thu
brought back little warmth to my sys
tenn, l assisted my wife to alight, anc
we at once started homeward.
II scarcely need add that we arrived
there in due time, to find our poor, night
long terrified children almost frantic will
joy at our safe return.
Eugenie's Oracle.