The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-07-31
glaring eyes shone in the. darkness like
so many Goals of fire.

momentarily drew back, she, with rare
presence of mind, at once gathered her
buffalo robe, which she had dragged with
her, in such manner about her person
as to protect herself from the first onset
! nf their fanns The next moment the
| terocious animals, with the most savage
growls, sprang at her, at me, and at the
| two horses simultaneously. Hers at once
shook himself clear of his foes and fed
and mine began to rear and plunge in
such manner that could not make use
of a single weapon, and only by main
strength kept him from running away
with me. E
''It was terrible moment of exciting
agony; and the instant that I could re-
lease my feet from the stirrups I lcaped
to the ground with yell-my rifle slip
ping from my hands, and discharging it.
self by the conclusion, and my stecd
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 I doing, but
thinking only that the dear mother of my
little ones lay fairly beneath three or four
of the furiously fighting and snarling
wild beasts grasped the weapons, one
in each hand, cooked them at the same
instant, and fairly jumping into the
midst of my enemies, placed the muzzles
against the heads of two that had turned
to rend me, and fired them both together.
Both shots, thank God took etfect-it
could not be otherwise and as the two
wolves rolled bowling back in their death
agonies, their starving companions, smell
ing and getting taste of their blood.
and instinctivcly comprehending that
they were now fairly in their power, fell
upon them with the most ravenous fury,
and literally tore them to pieces, and de-
voured them before my very eyes, almost
over the body of my wife, and in less, I
should say, than minute OF time.
"Ascertaining by few anxious lnqulr-
les that my wife was still alive and un-
harmed, | bade her remain quiet, and,
picking up my rifle, | proceeded to load
all my weapons with the greatest dis
patch.
''As soon as | had rammcd the first ball
home felt tempted to shoot another Of
the animals; but at that moment l heard
a distant howling and fearing that we
should soon he bcsct by another pack, I
reserved my fire for the next extreme
danger and hurricdly loaded the others
''By the time l had fairly completed
this operation our first assailants, having
nearly gorged themselves upon their
more unfortunate companions, began to
81 irl- I,,It Of Of (
the same time growing nearer, warned me
to be upon my guard.
81 had just succeeded in getting my
wife more securely rolled in her protect
ing robe as the safest thing I could do
in that extremity and myself, pistols in
| hand, in Il 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 momentary pause as they
came into view and discovered me-dur-
ing which their eyes glared and shone
like living coals-and then with terrific
growls and snarls, they began to circle
| round me, each moment narrowing the
space between us,
"Snddcnly one more daring or hungry
than the others bounded forward and re-
ceivcd a 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,a in the case of the first
"But l had no time to congratulate
myself that I had disposed Of him; fol
almost at the same instant 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 | was
still safe, I placed my pistol against the
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 do not know; but
almost immediately the space around
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 met
with a wonderful deliverance; and
though the wound in my thigh was some.
what painful, a brief examination salts
fled me that it would not prove serious
and | hastily proceeded to reload my
weapons-my wife meantime getting up
on her feet, embracing me tenderly, and
thanking God for our preservation. ,
.'"'Oh, the dear children she exclaimed
with maternal Tenderness; little do they
know how near they have come to being
made orphans, and left alone in this soil
tary wilderness! Let us hasten home tc
them! Oh, let us hasten home to them
while we have opportunity ...-.. r.
81" 'We have no opportunity gloomily
replied. 'Hark! there ale more of oul
foes in the distance-do you hear themg
"'And they are coming this way, to?
she tremblingly inquired.
"'I fear So
"'Ob, great God. what will become o
us' she exclaimed; for am almost Ger
tain that we shall not both survive a thir(
attack
81 see but one way of escape said l
anxiously. we must climb a tree, ant
remain in the branches till morning.
"'We shall surely freeze to death there
she replied.
"I trust not; but at all events, as ou
horses are gone, We have no alternative
l think your buffalo robe, well wrapped
around, will protect you from the cold
as it has done from the wolves; and a
for myself, l will endeavor to keep warn
by climbing up and down, and stampin.
upon the limbs" .eaS