South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-10-24

way, and 10 discipling weaker people
than himself
We drove on slowly. The night was
dark and cold. but my mother wrapped
Mary and me up in cloalls and buffalo
skins. and held the baby close to her
breast. and we were comfortable enough.
Snug-littlo man? called my father
from time to time. Feet warm, Jane2
Little Mary's sound asleep, God bless
her! It's not such frightful journey
after all, eh! L 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.
My father after that soon went TO
sleep. lie did not wakeE 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 ais you. sam?
What are you stopping here for? he said
to the driver
Well, TO tell the truth stammered
Sam, I've lost the way.
l don't get the bearin's just right.
I'll soon End it for you.
No you'll not Colonel, said Sam. de-
cisively. You never were in these woods
before. Just YOU keep inside and
lemmc alone. This is my business.
My father was too good diciplina-
rIan not TO understand the force of this
statement. He sat still, though impa.
tlent and scolding, while Sam got down
and tramped the interminable rows of
black pil!ared trunks, seeking vainly for
some landmark.
They're all so confoundeily alike, he
muttercd. scramhIing to his seat. Eff
only the stars would come out
How far have you gone?
Ten mile--or mebbe five. This hyar
snow is so blinGin'n confusin'-hesita.
ted Sam. Gee mp. now whipping up his
four horses with q faint show OF energy.
They male start and then stopped,
the leaders giving neigh of terror.
Heaven help US cried Sam. A far.off
cry, like shrll yclps, was heard. My
father started up.
Don't be uneasy, Jane, he said quiet
~. l am going out on the box with
Sam. Keep the children quiet if posi-
BILE. Don't lot tho baby cry.
What is it, Charles?
Oh, no matter! Lynxes catamounts,
some miserable wood vermn.
The next moment lie was beside Sam.
Drive for your life. They are no coy
oles-they are the great gray wolves!
/ know il; they have been in the
woods al winter.
That's what Joe meant
Yes, when you wouldn't listen.
But it vas no time for determination.
The horses, urged by terror, needed no
whipping. They dashed forward. The
coach rocking 10 and fro, dashed violent.
~ Mt 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 yelping along
side.
My father had placed pair of pistols
in Sans hands. Both men fred alter
natcly. But they had TO stop to load,
Tor it was before the day Of reyolvers.
One fierce red-oycd brute sprang upon
the window, from which little Mary, es.
Gaping from my mother had thrust out
her head. My father fired, and he fell
back on the yelling pack below. They
stopped mon ent 80 tear him to pieces,
and for that moment tie coast was clear.
Then they came with fresh fury. One
Of the horses geye ! yell, human in ag-
ony.
Us Susy! cried Sam. They've torn
her throat. The mare was one Of the
leaders. Ny father drew his knife.
and with great risk, crept along the pole
between tie running wheel horses. and
cut tie traces and rcins of the two lead.
oTs. The dying horse dropped on one
side Of the vehicle. and the other leader
broke from him and fed through the
woods.
These two'll not take us in. said Sam.
No; hut wen fight every inch.
The wolves had gathered about the
fallen mare. The moon began to rise
and showed thor number. My mother
declared there were thousands Of them.
But she was not in condition 10 count
very accurately.
The two wheel-horscs dragged the
coach about half mile Then the
pack came up again, lCaped on their
launches, and tore the poor brutes so
that tic flesh hung in great strips.
Cup NpN AI5Oltel morse. nat viii
keep them back ten minutes, said Sam,
with white lips 6 staring eyes. lie hal
fought silently anil baycly. But hc
Wa, thinking now Of bis wife and baby.
1utt would be 20 burn our ship with
a vengeance. said my father. What
would We do then?
Bring the woman aud children TO the
top OF TIE stage aud Gsht until oui am
munitions gone.
l have two charges LEFT.
Ibcu sc are lose.
~ that my mother, who had not ut
tcrci o sound before, cried ont. 4 wolf
had 'eapcd halfiu,O The window, and vas
scratching To got into the coach. My
father shot iW dead. lie was not likely
20 miss bis mark with that shot.
And now thg black swarmng beasts
spraag hegllong ON lIc horses. They
stagZc.ei aud FELL