Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-05-03
GaIes ano Skftfbes.
CAPT. sfAxLEY's BoDr-GUARD.
BY HARRY CAsILEMoN.
Confined from Yesterday }

i knew that the storm would overtake me
long before I could reach my destination.
began to feel timid. did not like the
persistency with which those famine breed
ers hung on my trail. There was some
thing ominous in it.
Just before dark reached nv camp
ing ground. 1t was sheltered nook
among the hills, bare of snow, and there
was spring of good water close by.
After putting the blankets on the mare,
and feeding her, and making her as COM
Portable as | could for the night. / built a
fire under the lee of rock, and with my
dogs around me, sat down to eat my sup
per. Just then the war Of the elements
began. With roar and a rush that was
terrific. the advance guard Of the Arctic
forces struck the south wind and drove it
back Then there was a iull, such as
sometimes occurs in battle, when the Op-
posing forces are gathering themselves
for decisive effort, and with another
mighty roar the final onslaught 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 un-
bearable. 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. II was pitch
dark. The blizzard was still raging fear
fully, and the wolves had approached so
close to my camp that 1 could hear the
patter Of their feet as they ran about
among the scrub oaks, and my faithful
dogs now and then gave growl 10 warn
them off. A stamping among the brutes
told me that my mare was rendered un-
easy 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. Crop
ing my way on my hands and knees to
the pile OF fuel had gathered before 90
ing to sleep, picked up stick and be-
gan poking around for the Goals. Present.
ly sharp, stinging sensation in my hand
told me that had found one. | could feel
the pain, but could not see the COAL and
yet it must nave been a live one or else 1t
could not have burned me. With trem-
bling hands and a terrible sinking at my
heart. took out match and lighted it.
could distinctly hear it burning, but
could not see the blaze, although | held
the match until my fingers were scorched
Then 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
desperate if 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 anoth-
er cry of terror CROPPED my way back to nv
bed. and catching up my rifle, succeed
ed after a desperate scramble, in placing
myself on the top of the rock. BY this
time the battle between NV dogs and the
wolves was in full progress, and fierce
one it was, too. | fired shot after shot
into the air in the hope of frightening the
famine-breeders, but they were rendered
too desperate by hunger to smell of gun
powder. How earnestly prayed that my
noble dogs might succeed in fighting off
their savage foes | shouted to them words
of encouragement to which they had new
er failed to respond during a hunt, and
finally knew that they We're gaining the
victory. They drove the wolves away
from me. but the ravenous animals were
not to be cheated. They turned their at
tention to my horse.
81 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 jov she sue
ceeded, and with shrll neigh of terror.
set off up the valley. heard her hoofs
Gathering over the bare ground. and the
snarls and yelps of the savage pack as it
followed close at her heels, and then all
was still. called to my faithful guar
dians. 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
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
overpower my guards and make an end of
me. | had always prayed for a soldiers
death. and the thought that must give up
my life in tins horrible way, was agoniz-
ing.
Il 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 was aroused by a bark from
one of my hounds. and U know every
note uttered by these animals as well as l
know the sound of NV own voice. it was
bark of welcome. Help was near. NV
first feeling was one of amazement, and
before had recovered from it. | heard a
rifle shot. and then another and another.
The whole pack broke out into Joyous
baying. l cooked my rife with my be-
numbed hands, and fired all 1.-THE remain
ing cartridges into the air. | tried to
shout. but could not utter a sound. Nv
head reeled and fell from the rock.
Il remained full month at MIR. But
ler's hospitable rancho before was able
to return to the post. He and two of his
neighbors had been out after black tails.
and were caught IL the blizzard, but know
ing that they must reach home or run the
risk of being showed up in the hills. they
boldly faced il. and fortunate thing it
was for me that they did so. They saw
the wolves dcvouring my mare and took
the hack trail evnacfinsr sr IN find nv Glad