Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-08-16

was something ominous in it.
"Just before dark reached my camping
ground 1t was sheltered nook among the
hills, bare Of snow, and there was spring of
good water close by. After putting the blan-
ket on the mare and feeding her and making
her as comfortable as could for the night,
| built fire under the lee of rock, and
with my dogs about me sat down TO eat my
supper. just then the war with the ele-
ments began. With a roar and rush that
was terrific, the advance guard of the Arc
tic forces struck the south wind and drove
it back. Then there was a lull, such as
sometimes occurs after battle when the op-
posing forces are gathering themselves for a
| decisive effort and with another mighty
roar the final onslaught was made. The
blizzard was in full blast. The air was lit
orally filled with ice 1t grew colder and
colder every minute and my fire seemed to
give out no heat. l could not look at the
blaze, for the pain in my eyes had increased
until it was almost unbearable. Finally /
wrapped my blankets around me and lay
down to sleep.
How long / slumbered do not know.
was awakened by one of my dogs, which
came up and licked my face. | started up
and threw off the blankets. 1t was pitch
dark. The blizzard was still raging fear
fully, and the wolves had approached so
close TO my camp that | could hear the pat
ter of their feet as they ran about among the
scrub oaks, and my faithful dogs now and
then gave growl to warn them off. A
stamping among the brutes told me that my
mare was rendered uneasy by their presence,
and thought would go out and speak to
her. | looked toward the place where my
fire had been kindled, but could not see
single coal 1t had burned itself completely
out. Cropping my way on my hands and
knees to the pile of fuel | had gathered be-
fore going to sleep, picked up stick and
began poking around for the Goals. Pres
emily sharp singing sensation in my
hand told me that had found one. / could
feel the pain, but | could not see the coal,
and yet it must have been live one, or else
it could not have burned me. With trem-
bling hands and terrible sinking at my
heart took out match and lighted it. /
could distinctly hear it burning, but 1 could
not see the blaze, although held the match
until my fingers were scorched. Then l
dropped it, and with a scream of terror
jumped to my feet Great heaven was
snow-blind.
"With the experience now have know
that my situation would have been desper-
ate If l had been in full possession of my
sight; as it 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 terrible battle with one of the
wolves. With another cry of terror groped
my way back to my bed, and catching up
my rifle succeeded after desperate scram-
BILE in placing myself on the top of the rock.
By this time the battle between my dogs
aud the wolves was in full progress, and
fierce one it was, too. l fired shot after
shot into the air in the hope of frightening
the famine-breeders, but they were rendered
too desperate by hunger to fear the smell of
gunpowder. How earnestly prayed that
my noble dogs might succeed in fighting off
their savage foes l shouted to them words
of encouragement to which they had never
failed to respond during hunt, and finally
| knew that they were gaining the victory
They drove the wolves away from me, but
the ravenous animals were not to be cheated
They turned their attention to my horse
fairly cried as | stood there sightless and
helpless on my rock and listened to the
struggles of the frightened beast as she
strove with desperate energy to break her
fastenings. To my great Joy she succeeded
and with shrill neigh Of terror set off up
the valley. l heard her hoofs clattering over
the bare ground and the snarls and yelps of
the savage pack as it followed close to her
heels and then all was still. | called to my
faithful guardians and each one answered
to his name by joyful bark, all except
| Major, whose response was a mournful
whine. Poor fellow He had been severely
handled.
al 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 tireless pursuers and
that having whetted their appetites they
would return in sufficient numbers to over
power my guards and make and end of me-.
| had always prayed for soldiers death,
and the thought that | must give up my
life in this horrible way was agonizing.
al cannot tell how long | stood there
waiting for the wolves to come back and
put me out of my misery, for was dazed
with terror. | fell into a sort of stupor,
from which l was aroused by bark from
one of my hounds, and q know every note
uttered by these animals as well as l know
the sound of my own voice) it was bark
of welcome. Help was near. My first feel
ing was one of amszement, and before | had
recovered from it heard a rifle shot, and
then another and another. The whole pack
broke out into joyous baying. 1 cooked
my rifle with my benumbed hands and fired
all the remaining cartridges into the air.
tried to shout, but could not utter a sound.
My head reeled and fell from the rock.
81 remained full month at Mr.. Buffers
hospitable rancho before l was able to re-
turn to the post He and two of his neigh
bors had been out after black-tails and were
caught in the blizzard, but knowing that
they must reach home or run the risk of be-
ing showed up in the hills, they boldly faced
it, and fortunate thing it was for me that
they did 80. They saw the wolves devour-
ing my mare, and took the back trail ex-
pecting to find my mangled body When
they discovered me lying there behind that
rock, surrounded by my bleeding hounds,
no words could express their astonishment.
Close by there were several dead wolves and
three disabled ones that were trying to crawl
off. These they shot. That these dead and
wounded members of the pack were not de-
voured by their comrades was owing to the
ferceness with which my brave dogs fought
them. They were badly cut up and they
received the same kind nursing that did,
and here they are, as ready for fight as
they ever were. Do you know why every
body in the fort thinks so much of my body
guard, Harry ?"
thought did.--Our Continent
How to Keep from Drowning.