The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-05-10


they had collected force that insured
success: then they became fierce and
bold, and more to be dreaded than any
other animal of the wilderness. And at
this point, when they considered their
numbers equal TO the occasion. the howl
ing ceased. EsBk
Evan had been told of this and when
the silence began, he knew its meaning,
and his heart shuddered at the prospect.
His only hope lay in the possibility that
they might not dare to fellow him across
the ice-bridge. But this hope vanished
as he approached the other shore and
saw by the moonlight several of the
gaunt creatures awaiting him on that
side. What should he do? No doubt
they would soon muster boldness to fol.
low him upon the ice and then his fate
would be sealed in moment.
In the emergency he thought of the
axes, and taking them from his neck cut
the cord and thrust his walking stick into
one as helve, resolved to defend HIM
self to the last
At this instant ne espied among the
thick, upheaved ice-cakes two great
fragments leaning against each other in
such way as to form roof with some
| thing like a. small room underneath.
Here he saw his only chance. Spring
within he used the ak to chip off other
fragments with which to close up the
entrance, and almost quicker than It can
be told had thus constructed a sort of
fort, which he. believed would withstand
the attack of the wolves. At nightfal
the weather had become colder and he
knew that in afew minutes the damp
pieces of ice would be firmly cemented
/ together.
Hardly had he lifted the last piece to
its place when the pack came rushing
about him, swapping and snarling, but
at first not testing the strength of his in
trenchment. When soon they began to
spring againstit and snap at the corners
of ice, the frost had done its work, and
they could not loosen his hastily built
| wall.
Through narrow crevices he could look
out at them, and at one time counted
sixteen grouped together in council AS
| the cold increased he had to keep in
motion in order not to freeze, and any
extra action on his part increased the
| fierceness of the wolves. At times they
would gather in circle around him,
and after shifting at him eagerly, set up
| dolefufhowling, as if deploring the ex-
cellent supper they had lost.
Ere long one of them found an OPEN
ing at a corner large enough to admit its
head; but Evan was on. the alert and
gave it such assblow with the axe as to
cause its death. Soon another tried the
same thing, and met with the same re-
ception, Withdrawing and whirling
| around several times, and then dropping
/ dead with q broken skull.
One smaller than the rest attempting
to enter, and receiving the fatal blow,
| crawled, in its dying agony, completely
into the inclosure, and lay deada Evans
feet. OF this he was not sorry, as his
feet were bitterly cold, and the warm
carcass of the animal served to relieve
them. 5
In the course of the night six wolves
were killed asthey sought to creep into
his fortress, and several others so seri-
ously hacked as to send them to the
woods again; and, however correct the
notion that when on the hunt they de-
Your their fallen comrades, in this case
they did no such thing, as in the morn
ing the six dead bodies lay about on the
ice, and Evan had the profitable priv
lege of taking off their skins.
OF his thoughts during the night a
quotation from his diary is quantity sug-
gestive and characteristic.
II bethought me of the wars of Glen
dover, have read about, and the battle
of Grosn1ont Castle, and I said. i am,
Owen Glendower; this is my castle; the
wolves are the army of Henry; hut viii
never surrender or yield as did Glen
dower.'"
Toward morning, as the change Of
weather continued and the waters OF. the
river began to diminish there was sud
denly a prodigious crack and crash of
the iee-bridge, and the whole mass set
tied several inches. At this the wolves
took alarm and in an instant fled. Per-
haps they might have returned had not
the cracking of the ice been repeated
! frequently.
At length Evan became alarmed for
his safety, lest the ice should break up in
the current, and Drinking his ak TO bear,
soon burst his way out and fed to the
shore. But not seeing the ice crumble
he ventured back to obtain the other
ak and then fastened home to his ern-
ployer.
During the day. he skinned the wolves
and within fortnight pocketed the
bounty money, amounting in all to about
one hundred and fifty dollars. With this
mooney he-made the first payment on 4
large farm which he long lived to culti-
vate aud enjoy. and under. the sod of
which he found quiet grave, e,--WSde
Aaoake.
LII ---------7--ssas -s'------
The curious Stebbins, who had
marching Through Georgia and
''Good-byA My Lover, Good by,p sung
by request at his grave, was once ap-
pointed Consul tothe Philippine Islands.
He was informed. however, that it was
very hot there and there were numerous
and severe earthquakes to give him the
''shakes. He wired" at once to
Washington:s Il like: hot climate and
don't care for earthquakes" He had
hardly set ,foot.on theislands when there
was an earthquake which nearly threw
him back into the hold OF the steamer.
He didn't cro ashore araiu b,,k ,.o+,,,,,o II