Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-03

. lA.
! different directions, and which our eN-
perirnce told us were wolves. seemingly
/ calling and answering each other through
/ the great forest.
1.-THE wolves Of this region Were of
/ the larger and licrccr species; and though
ordinarily and singly they might not Mt
/ tack human being, yet in numbers and
pressed by hunger, as they generally were
| at this season of the year, by no means
| felt certain that we should not be
molested.
Accordingly we quickcncd the pace
of our horses and rs we hurried ON grew
every moment more uneasy and alarmed
as | noticed that many of the sounds
| gradually approached Us. We had just
entered u deep hollow, where few large
trees stretched their huge branches over
n dense thickct, when suddenly there
arose several loud. harsh, baying and
snarling sounds close Mt hand. The next
moment there was quick rustling and
thrashing among the bushes; and then
some six or eight large wolves lean.
gaunt and maddcncd with hunger
sprung into the path close beside us.
This happened so suddenly and un-
cxpectedly that my wife gave slight
scream and dropped her rein; and the
horse, rearing and plunging mt the same
moment, unscatcd her; and she fell to
the ground, right in the very midst of
the savage beasts. whose glaring eyes
shonc in the darkness like 80 many Goals
of fire.
Fortunately her sudden fall startled
the wild animals little; and ~ they
momcntarily drew back, she, with rare
presence of mind. nj once gathered her
buffalo robe, which she End dragged with
her, in such "A manner about her person
as to protect herself from the first onset
of their fangs. The next moment tn,
/ fcrocious 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
fled; and mine began to rear and plunge
in such manner that | could not make
use of single weapon, and only by main
strength kept him from running away
with me.
L" 1t was n terrible moment of exciting
agony; and the instant that | could re-
lease my feet from the stirrups | lcapcd
to the ground with a ycll-my rifle slip
ping from my hands, and discharging it
self by the conclusion, and my st"cd
rushing like lightning after his flying
companion over the frozen snow
" Luckily, 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
ofmy little ones lay fairly beneath three
or four Of the furiou,ly fighting and
snarling wild beasts, | graspcd the
weapons one in each hand, cooked them
at the same instant and fairly jumping
~ "o midst Of my enemies, placed the
muZzlcs against the heads Of two that
had turned 10 rcnd me, and fired them
both together.
Both shots. thank God, took effect
ii could not hc othcrwi-c--and a. the
two wolves rolled bowling back in their
death agonjcs, their starving CompaE nus,
smelling and getting ta~t" Of their
blood. and iustinCtivcly cumprrhcnding
that they were now fairly in their power.
fell upon them with the most raycnuu-
fury, and literally tore them 10 pieces.
and deyOurcd them before my very eyes.
almost over the body Of my wifi. and in
less, ! should say. than minute of time.
Ascertaining by few anxious in
quirics that my wife was still alive and
unharmcd, hade her remain quiet. and.
picking M my rifle. | proceeded to load
all my weapons with the greatest dis
patch.
AS soon as had ramcd the first
ball home felt tempted to shoot another
of the animals; hut ut that moment |
heard distant bowling. and fearing W.
should soon be bcs"t by another pack.
| reserved my fire for the next extreme
danger and hurricdly loaded the others.
by the time | had fairly completed
this operation our first assailants. hayi ing
nearly gorgod them m.clves upon their
more unfortunate companions. began to
stink away; but the cries Of the others
q. the same time growing nearer. warned
me tn be upon my guard.
I" had just succeeded in getting my
wife more securely rolled in her protect
/ ing robc--as the safest thing could do
in that cNtremity-and myself. pistols in
hand. in defensive attitude over her
body, when some eight or ten more of
the savage and desperate creatures made
their appearance upon the scene.
There was n momcntary pause "a
they came into view and discovered me
during which their cycs glarcd and
shono like living Goals and then. with
terrific growls and snarls. they began To
circle round me, each moment narrow
ing the space between us
Suddenly one more daring or hungry
than the others bounded forward and
received n shot from one of my pistols
directly between the eyes. and as hc
rolled back upon the snow a 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
almost at the same instant felt the lac
Grating fangs Of another in my thigh,
which caused me to shrek with pain ;
and my poor wife. with mn answering
shrek, believing II was all over with
me. was about to get up and face the
worst, when. shouting to her not to
stir, that I was still safe. placed my
pistol against the head of ms assailant.
and stretched him quivering on the
snow also.
81 still had my rifle in reserve: and
/ pointing that Mt the fighting pack, |
poured its contents among them How
many were wounded do not know t:
but almost Immediately the space around
us became once more cleared of our
howling encmics-some limping rs they
fled and appearing to be- harrasscd by