The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-06-01


northern horizon, and the Colonel had
warned me TO make haste for storm
was brewing. Acting upon his advice.
4 pushed ahead as rapidly as possible,
shading my burning eyes with my
hand, and now and then ealing to my
dogs, who seemed inclined to turn
about and give battle TO a pack of gaunt
and hungry wolves that was following
behind me. / saw, with no little un-
easiness. that although the south wind
was blowing strongly, that threatening
bank Of clouds ia the north was rising
rapidly against 1t. The Arctic King
was coming in his might, and 1 knew
/ tiiat the storm would oYertake me long
before 1could reach my destination
began 20 feel timid. did not like Che
persistency with which those famine
breeders hung on my trail There was
something olninous IN It.
just before dark reached my
camping ground. IL was a sheltered
nook among the hills, bare Of snow, and
there was spring Of good water close
/ by. Alter putting the blankets On
the mare and feeding her, and max
ing her as comfortable as could
Tor the night, ! built q flre under
the lee Of a rock, and with my dogs
around me, sat down to eat my supper.
| just then the war OF the elements be-
gan. With aroar and rush that was
| terrific, the advance guard OF the
Arctic forces struck the south wind and
/ drove it back. Then there was a hull.
such as sometimes occurs in battle.
when the opposing forces are gathering
themselves for a decisive effort, and
with another mighty roar the final on
| slaught was made. The blizzard was IN
full blast. The air was literally filled
with ice. 1t grew colder and colder
every minute, and my fire seemed to
! give out no heat. / could not look at
the blaze for the pain in my eyes had
| increased until it was almost unbear-
able. Finally l wrapped my blankets
around me and lay down to sleep.
"How long l slumbered l do not
know. / was awakened by one of my
dogs, which came up and licked my
face \ started up and threw Off the
i blankets. Il was pitch dark. The
BLIZZARD was still raging fearfrlly, and
tue wolVes had approached 50 close to
hmy camp that l could hear the patter OF
their feet as they ran about among the
scrub oaks, and my faithful dogs now
and then gave growlt to warn them OH,
a stamping among the brutes told me
that my mare was rendered uneasy by
their presence, and thought 4 would
go out and speak to her. 1 looked
toward the place where my fire had
been Rndled, but 4 could not see
single coal 1t had burned itself com
pletely out. Cropping my way on my
hands and knees to the pile OF fuel
had gathered before going to sleep, i
picked up stick and began poklng
Goals. HrHSenTiV a
sharp, singing sensation in my hand
told me that had found one. L could
feel the pain, but could not see the
coal, and yet 1t must have been live
one or else 1T could not have burned
me, With trembling hands and ter
rible sinking at my heart, took out a
match and lighted 1t. L could distinctly
hear 1t burning, but could not see the
blaze, although L held the match until
my fingers were scorched. Then l
dropped It, and with scream OF terror
jumped to my feet. Great heaven! l
was snow-blind!
With the experiences L now have, 1
know that my situation would have
been desperate II had been npossession
of my sight; as 1T was, gave myself up
for lost. / was paralyzed with horror,
and for time could not move. The
actions Of one of my dogs aroused me.
He bounded forward and began a
terrible battle with one of the wolves.
With another cry OF terror CROPPED my
way back TO my bed, and catching up
my rifle succeeded, after desperate
scramble, in placing myself on the top
of the rock. By this time the battle
between my dogs and the wolves was in
full progress, and q fierce one it was, too.
Il fro hot of ch mt a aIg in fiara
hope of frightening the tamlne-breeders,
but they were rendered too desperate
by hunger to fear the smell of gum
powder. How earnestly / prayed that
my noble dogs might succeed in fight
ing off their savage foes! l shouted to
them words of encouragement to which
they had never failed to respond during
a hunt, and finally L knew that they
were gaining the victory. They drove
the wolves away from me, but the
rayenous animals were not to be
cheated They turned their attention
to my horse.
- fairly cried as stood there, sight
less and helpless on my rock, and
listened tOthe struggles of the frightened
beast as She strove with desperate
energy to break her fastenings. To my
great 10Y She succeeded, and with a
shrill neigh of terror, set off up the
valley. heard her boots Gathering over
the bare ground, and the snarls and
yeIps of the savage pack as it followed
close at her heels, and then all was still.
/ called to my faithful guardians, and
each one answered to his name by
joyful bark, all except the Major, whose
respeAse. was a mournful whine. Poor
fellow He had been severely handled.
80 did not delude myself with the
hope that | had seen the last of the
wolves. knew that my steed, fleet and
enduring as she was, would in the end
be overtaken and torn in pieces by her