The Princeton union., 1879-09-17
Nearly three days passed, when Nc
Carly suddenly started up and exclaimed |:
''sh! don't you hear it2''

Nearly three days passed, when Nc
Carty suddenly started up and exclaimed:
sssh! 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 i'm
portance, meaning more probably life or
death to all concerned. In few minutes
they caught peculiar sound, which thew
knew was made by delving in the snow.
''They must be Indians !'' was the eycla-
nation of Mccoy.
::Most likely; bat how would thev
know we are here2"
A very appropriate question indeed-
for the descent of the avalanche had ah-
liberated 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 a brief tine.
the noise showed that the delvinp 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 McCart7,
in a scared voice.
"What's that?''
."They are not men, but wild anima,s.n
"What Of it!'
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"
Inc miner was correct in his theory.
tor they were wolves that we're clawinr
their way through the snow, eager to oct
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 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 a gigantic vol
was thrust through the opening. Before
the brute could take in the whole scene
the torch was jammed into his ewes. and
with a 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
gratiied to discover that the wolves nun,
bered only haif-a-dozen, tEo of which
were instantly shot dead, and third
wounded.
The rifles were loaded without DELAY
but the brutes, thoroughly frightened
skunk off, and when the miners had toiled
some distance, they looked back and saw
the survivors feas1ing upon the two that
had been killed.
Such meal was doubtless all they
wished for awhile, at least, and they
showed no disposition ts 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 tza5ersed
and they had a 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