Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-11-09

should come on without bringing our
return ?'
"'Pshaw 7 said James who was
some two veaIs older than /; the
wolves won t trouble us !! and with
these words we started into a brisk
trot.
"Already it was dusky in the thick
woods, and soon the snow commenced
to fall very fast. We had reached
the top of a high wooded ridge, over
which the road wound, and were plod-
ding along, facing the stormy blast;
when low dismal howl greeted our
ears from the swamp below"
JIM said /, that's d wolf, sure
the world ! don't know but that
we'd done better to have stayel at
Mr.. Belcher's. "
Gone on, he returned Who's
going to be aleard of one wolf
They never attack anything unless
there's a gang together; and vel! be
home before they get congregated
we re most half way home now. "
"a few moments later the same dis
NAL howl rang mournfnlly through
the thick forest again. And this time
an answering howl came up from the
valley on the other side. Another
moment, and tnen a prolonged echo
resounded behind US; and then anoth
er, and another, from the glen away
beyond the head OF the swamp"
"a cold shudder ran through nv
quivering frame, and my painting
breath seemed to come in iittul gasps
What would become of US? We
should be devoured 10y the wolves
Father, alarmed at our absence, would
come to find US, and they would kill
him too And mother and siste,
would mourn, and perhaps starve and
die alore in the wilderness And il
would all be on account of our wicked
dlsobedience. Tue lhonght was with
erng, and it racked my very sou
With mental agony
Eve had been carrying the venlsor
/ by turns. James snatched it from my
arms, and We fled like frightened dee,
down the hill.
CAS- we neared the low ground, tbe
sombre hemlocks SHUT ont the littl,
| lingering light Of day and We coulC
bu! lust discern the road. Lender anc
more fierce soundad the blood surd
! ling howls, az the cruel beasts gather
ed nearer about US, and we began tt
to realize that terrible moment wa
approaching"
Suddenly 2 dark, tNwny object
dashed across the road the road di
.ectly before rs. The dried twig,
snapped, and the bushes rustlcd, as il
leared tc one side and sent forth E
quick, hoarso groSl, causing us tc
quake with terror.
James threw down TIE venison
He grasped my hand, and we spec
along the road with all our might. A
moment late. such a commiug ed
snarllng aud howing arose as pray
heaven | may never hear again"
"They were lighting over the veni.
son; and now. if we would save our
lives, we must do our utmost to escape
during the few moments they would
be engaged in devouring it,
"But ere we had proceeded hun.
dred rods they were coming in swift
pursuit We were now running IN
hill; and We soon became 30 tired it
seemed as though we must drop from
exhaustion. Painting for breath, VIC
staggered on. It seemed aS though
we should never reach the summit.
We broke over the height at last, how.
ever, aud, we commenced to descend,
a bright light glimmered through the
forest, like brilliant lone star in the
darkness. To US it was indeed a star
of Joy. 1t was the light f1om our own
cabin window in the quiet little val
ley below
1T raised in our despondent breasts
new ray of hope, and we darted on
with renewed energy. The binding
snow dashed in our faces, and winter s.
frozen blast roared through the naked
forest like hurricane. The wolves
were now close upon US again, and in
a moment we might feel their sharp