Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-16

One day l CHANGED 10 go farther
than / was wont, but when turned
To retrace my steps discovered that
| was completely bewildercd as 10
the proper course Ihad been dream
ing along as I walked for the leaves.
coloring under the touch Of the sea
sons first frost, the bleaching grass,
the haze overhead and the softly
signing air-all had combined to
make me forget myself. l walked
rapidly in what l though. to be
home direction. but after an hour
had passed l found that l was even
more confused than at first. Arkan-
saw was a wild country in those
days-so wild that you could some
times travel for days without seeing
a human habitation. l began TO get
excited. Any one who is familiar
with life in the woo1s knows that
there is no feeling like becoming ex'
cited in forest. 1t is not inexplica-
ble-iike the shaking that sometimes
SEXES a hunter, especially if he he
new one, when a deer approaches.
When q maH in the woods IS con-
WINGED that he is lost he feels an al.
most irresistible desire to run wild;
children have been lost in the woods,
aad in a half days time they are,
in some instances. so wild that when
fonnd they will bite and scratch
even when their mothers approach
them. felt this excitement coming
on me, and l knew that if l did not
DO something TO counteract its infiu-
ence would 60 wild. Then l reflect
ed how often had been temporarily
lost, and how at any other time l
would have laughed ut the idea OF
running wild. thought that |
would fire off my gun that it would
afford some relief. looked around,
and my hair stood on end. My gun
was gone. 81 had it but moment
ago." thoughtfully mused; what
could l lave done with it:" and !
threw back my head and howled. Il
must not encourage such outbreaks,
said to myself. for man will go
wild even in city if he hOwls very
much;" and l remembered that when
was a boy several of my compan.
ions went wild while shouting in adj
miratinn Of a circus procession, and
that the Snowman caught them
and put them in cages where they re-
NAMED, even defying the recogni'
ton of their parents. One of the
boys was named Luke Horn. and
when his father came along and
looked at Luke the boy held out bis
paw-he had paws at that time-and
the old man jumped and exclaimed
why, that dcvi!ish monkey wants
to take hold Of me-"
laughed at this recollection and
got down and gnawed at root OF q
tree. Then l arose and howled.
couldn't stand on my hind feet very
long-yes, hanged il l didn't have
four feet and tail by this time. The
truth is l had gradually become a
wolf. feel taat any one who
chooses to read this manuscript will
smile incredulousiy at this, and pro-
duce all kinds of arguments to prove
the impossibiIity Of man retrograd.
ing into wolf; and probably the
same man, too, may be believer in
evolution. l shall not argue this
point though. for in regard to my
own experience I am certain. while
any one who opposes me could only
protest without proof. and hence ar
guments would be mere assertions
unsnsiained by single fact.
had not been fully developed
wolf but few moments until several
wolves came from thesvalley beyond
and began to sniff around me. When
satisfied that was genuine they sat
down, whereupon we all began to
discuss the ACCESSIBILITY of getting
something to eat. II was soon decid.
ed that we should go down the val.
ley, where there was farm well
stocked with sheep. The mention of
sheep made my mouth water. for,
being wolf, l was hungry my.
self. We started on our expedition
and soon reached the farm. just as
we jumped over the fence to seize a
sheep q man sprang from behind a
stump and fired upon us. A buck.
shot wounded ohe of my hind legs,
and, after vainly attempting to leap
over the fence. l fell among q lot OF
bushes, where lay perfectly still,
hoping to escape observation. In
thi. l was disappointed. for the Old
farmer ran TO me, thrust his gun be.
tween the bushes and aimed at my
head. whined piteously and shut
my eyes. expecting To be blown into
atoms. but the farmer did mol shoot
II wonder what sort of dog a
wolf would make" said the farmer
to his son. This fellow whines so
that don't want to finish him. He
must have been led into this thing.
Let us see if he wants to bite" and
he put his hand on my head. Ibid
not bite him. but licked his hand.
He was So well pleased at this that
he took me up and carried me TO the
house. My wound was soon dressed
and when they gave me something 10
eat felt pretty comfortable. Still
was a wolf, and, although they were
so kind to me, yet meditated re-
venge. l wanted 10 get back to my
companions. One day. after l had
thoroughly recovered. the old man
set me to watching sheep in small
pasture. He seemed to have couti-
dence in me. for he did not even look
back after he crossed the fence. How
wished for my companions. and
howled. The sheep became frighten.
ed and huddled together. l hOwled
again and an answer came from the
woods. Another howl and my com.
panions jumped over the fence. j Sc.
lected young lamb that ever looked
sweet and tender to me, and l made
q spring for him, when bang went a
gun and fell over shot through
both fore legs. l looked up and saw
the farmer coming. l whined, but
he frowned and levelcd the GUN at
my head. =
Hay in bed at home. Numer Gus
friends stood around me, and when
told them not to shoot again. they
assured me that / was out of all dan
sar