The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-08

their cyesshining like Goals of fire all around
ME, and heard, above the awful roar of the
tempest, their barkings, snurling and growl-
ings, as they danced ab6ut, leaping and
tumbling over each other, ono minute ven
turing up close, and then falling back in
alarm as l shouted to frighten them, but all
tho time getting boldcr and bolder, till l
saw the struggle must come soon My
poortrembling horse could not procct himself
IN the least; for besides, as have said, that
he could not see, he was now imbcdcd in a
drift, onc-half Of which had showed up
around him after he had stopped; and
though, If the wolves had not been present,
l might, perhaps, have worked him out of
this, yet doubt if he could have got out
alone, or that I could have ever got him
home alive in any case"
"Wcll, the work of destruction soon be-
gun, by some of the holdest of the beasts
plunging into the drift. and seizing upon
the horse before and behind at the same
timo. He shrek, and reared, and plunged
and kicked, and it was marvel that was
not thrown from his back and destroyed
before him. ! clung to him for a short
time, unable either to shoot or use my rifle
for club, and believing my last minute
was at hand and then, somehow, by q
sudden impulse, l sprang to my feet, and
jumbed from his back, as far as could,
into the deepest part of the snow. l went
down like plunglng INTO water, and the
next instant the sweeping blast had covered
me with white mantle, that only hoped
would be my winding sheet, if it would
save me from the fangs Of the monsters
that were now tearing my horse to pieces. "
"For what seemed an age to me, the
ravenous beasts remained at their bloody
understanding growing and fighting
Every minute Of this time was expecting
them to bounce upon me, and kept my
knife in my hand, prepared to sell my life
dearly. had my rifle with me, too; but
this was of no use, except to thrust out
through the white wall of my prison
house and to open an air hole through
which could breathe. Except my
fear of the wolves attacking me. l did
not feel so very uncomfortable in my strange
quarters; and when, at last, became sen
siblc by the sounds that the animals were
gradually dispensing, sliuking away one
after another, my poor heart took a great
b 'und with hope, and thanked God WI Ii
my whole soul for his kind Providence in
preserving me.
1T was long, terribly long and try
ing night after that, as l remained there
buried in the snow, constantly changing
my position, rubbing my legs, arms, hands
and body, forcing open breathing holo.
rousing myself from drowsncss whose
sleep would have been death, listening to
the shricking and bowling storm above me,
and thinking of my poor, distracted wife
at homc-it was terribly long night, in
deed-but lived through it, and fervcntly
thanked God to see the storm abatc with
the dawn of day"
"Though only seven miles to my cabin,
it took me six hours of hard labor to reach
it; and then fell into the arms of my al
most frantic wife, completely exhausted,
and with some Of my limbs so frosted that
| was not able to leave the house again for
months. Terrible as was the journey to
the mill, my wife was obliged to make it
alone, few days after, to get meal to keep
us from starving and you can fancy what
were my feelings, while left an inva id at
home, knowing her lia Die to be exposed to
the same perils which had so nearly proved
fatal to me! All, sir, it is indeed with
truth l can say, saw some pretty hard
times when I first settled in the western
country"