The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-06-07
A CAMP SURPRISE.

During the summer of 1877 merry
party, ten of us in all, camped out in
the Adirondack wilderness. There were
three guides-I mention the guides
first because they are the most impor-
tant members of a camping party-two
gentlemen,two children, two ladies, the
children's old maiden aunt, myself and
an English nurse to help take care of
the little ones.
We had pitched our tents in the grand
old Adirondack forest on the shore of
beautiful lake in the heart of the s'North
Woods" and for ten days had had the
jolliest time imaginable.
At last we were getting out of
'venison, and the gentlemen proposed a
night hunt for deer. On former occa-
sioEs they had always left guide to
guard the camp, but knowing that deer
were scarce, we thought the more men
in the party, the more likely would they
bring home a fine, fat buck. So we
protested against being left in charge of
a guide, and after talking it over awhile
the gentlemen finally agreed to take all
the guides with them, and just before
dusk started for pond some miles dis
tant from our camp.
We watched the boats until they
passed out of sight, and then strolled
about the shore until it was dark.
Then drawing near the tents we sat
down on some logs around the camp
fire. Touching match to a huge pile
of brush hard by we sat gazing upon the
flames as they leaped upward, roaring
and cracking, and filing the forest
with cheerful glow.
Every one, we suppose, knows that
being courageous in broad daylight is
one thing, and being courageous in the
dark is another. We had been as brave
as lions before sunset, but / think the
feeling that we were alone in this i'm
mense forest miles and miles from a
hunters tent made US feel little
nervous, for / noticed that we started
at every rustling of the bushes. looking
up anxiously if the wind gently stirred
the branches overhead, and the En-
glish nurse jumped at least foot as a
loon sent forth his wild, mocBing cry.
"Was that panther, eh?' she asked
in a frightened whisper.
80, no indeed" replied the chill
dren's aunt, and yet the feeble attempt
at a laugh ended in a little shiver, and
l saw her glance quickly over her
shoulder in a scared sort of way.
Piling several logs of wood on the
fire to make it last as long as possible.
we withdrew to our large sleeping tent.
The English nurse headed the procession
with an old rusty hunting-knife she had
found among the cooking utensils.
Rob, the youngest boy, lugged broken
oar into the tent, while aunt brought up
the rear with tin pan and pudding
stick.
"I have often read that any loud
noise will serve to frighten away wild
beasts" she whispered to me, "and l
thought these might be handy to have
with u.s."
After securely fastening the canvas
flaps at the entrance of the tent, we
lay down on our beds of hemlock
boughs, but we didn't seem to be very
sleepy; in fact, we were too nervous to
sleep at once. Twas Just dropping into
a doze when 1 heard sound in the
Distance kind of prolonged howl.
raised my head to Gsten-so did
aunt.
"What was that?'' she whispered.
80, nothing but another loon," an
swered, as calmly as could, but l
knew very well it was not loon.
For few moments all was still.
Again the same unearthly sound broke
the stiffness of the night. This time it
seemed nearer-a long dismal howl.
The children's aunt rose to sitting
posture. The English nurse asked in
frightened whisper, "Indians, eh?"
Panther, ehf''
Nonsense" returned l. s'There
are no panthers here, and as for Indians,
there isn't red man within a thousand
miles, Here l stopped. My hair was
braided down my back in a Chinese
pig-tail, and it seemed to rise straight
in the air as gust of wind brought to
our ears a third howl, followed by a
chorus of unearthly yelps.
We sprang to our feet felt some
one pulling at my dress and heard
Rob's voice-the Oldest boy was fast
asleep: "What is it, auntie? is it's it
q wolff" Then knew that his eyes were
as big as butter-plates.
Whatever it is it shall not hurt you,
DEAR said /, putting one hand on his
shoulder, and feeling with the other for
the rifle which one Of the gentlemen had
placed in a corner of the tent that very
afternoon.
"Aunt, where is the riflep"
And aunt, who had a horror of fire
arms, confessed that "only few
moments before she had carried it out
of the tent and laid it down in the
bushes with the butt end toward the
camp.
"But it wasn't loaded" replied an
grily.
tWell, dear, rifles go off sometimes
when they amt loaded" she answered.
knew by this that aunt was very,
very nervous or she never would have
made such foolish speech. ''Our last
hope is gone then,' said with a groan.
"Now Keep still; not word for your
livesl Perhaps the wolves may go in
another direction; they may be chasing
a deer"
The moment said /" wolves the En-
glish nurse tainted. "Let her alone, T"
said aunt. "If you bring her to her
senses she will faint again. l am sure
If have got to be eaten by wolves
had rather faint too, then / shouldn't
know anything about it."
"Hushi Listenr'
We held our breath. This is what we
heard: A howl or two, a cracking and
rustling of twigs, the noise of long leaps
through the underbrush, and then, oh,
horrori the sound of animals rushing
madly around the tents. The chill
dren's aunt had been peeping through
small hole in one side of the tent.
"Look! for mercy's sake, lookr' she
gasped.
1 put my eyes close to the rent and
there, rushing wildly about were foul
great, lean, shaggy brutes! BY the light
of the camp fire l could see their gilt
tering eyes, red tongues and sharp
white teeth.
1 drew back in horror. "Try the tir
pan," said /.
Rob beat lively tattoo with the pud.