The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-17


Right along, dear; I'm not likely TO forget
EN-, for they most cost me my life, TO say moth
| ing of my new slippers. There was great re-
joicing over Joe, and every one wanted to do
something TO homer our hero; for he had done
well, we found out, when the General heard his
story. We had a great dinner, and Judge Null
/ likin gave & supper; but Major Belknap was
bound 10 ostshine the rest, so he invited all the
! young folks over TO his house, nigh ten miles
away, 10 ball, and We all weHt. ] made my
1 self fine, you may believe, and wore pair of
blue kid slippers, with mothers best buckles to
set 'em off Joe had new uniform, and was
an elegant figure Of a man, do assure you.
lie couldn't dance, poor dear, being still very
lame; but WAS a proud girl when j marched
into that ballroom on the arm of my limping
/ beau. The meE cheered. and the ladies stood
up In chairs TO sec him, and he was as red as
my ribbons, and l could hardly keepfrom cry
ing as ] held him up the floor being slippery
as glass with the extra waxing il had got.
I" / declared ] wouldn't dance because Joe
couldn't; but he made me, saying he could see
me better, so / footed it till two o'clock, soon
forgetting all my sorrow, and my good resou-
/ tons as well. / wanted to show Joe that was
as much a 1ayorite as ever, though I'd lived
! like widow for year. Young folks VIII be
giddy, and hone these girls viii take warning
/ by me aud behave better when their time
comes. There inayn't be any wolves TO sober
/ 'em; but trouble of some sort always follows
foolish actions; so be careful, my dears, and
behave with prGpricty when you come out, as
I you call it nowadays"
Grandma held up warning forcfinger at the
! girls, and shook her dead impressively, feeling
1 that the moral of her tale must be made clear
before she went on; but the lassies blushed a
little, and the LIDS looked all impatience so the
dear old lady introduced the wolves as quickly
as she could.
About halfpast two, Joe and I drove off
home with four fine hams in the bottom OF the
sleigh, sent by the Major to our mothers. 1t
was a bitter cold February night. with just
I light enough to see the road, and splendid
sleighing, go we went along at a good pace till
we came 10 the great woods. They are all
I gone now, and the wooden mills stand there,
4 but then they were a thick forest of pines, and
for more than three miles the road led through
/ them IN former days Indians had lurked
there; bears and foxes were still shot, and oe-
casionally wolves were seen when cold weather
drove them TO seek food near the sheep-folds
and barn yards.
Well, We were sBimming along pleasantly
enough, / rather sleepy, and Joe very careful of
me, when, just as / WAS beginning to doze a
1 little, with my head on his arm, felt him
start Old Buck, the horse, gave a jump that
woke me up and in minute [ knew what the
! trouble was, Tor from behind as came the howl
Of wolf
]
Joe. using the whip till Bnek went at his
quickest trof, with his ears down, and every
! sign of hurry aud worry about him.
Are you afraid of them?' / asked, for I'd
never had scare of this sort though I'd
heard other people tell of the ferceness of the
brutes when hunger made them bold.
80 Not a bat, only wish / had my gun
along said Joe, looking over his shoulder anx-
iousiy.
- Pity l hadn't brought mine; do so we'll
with it, / said, and / laughed as l remembered
4 how / aimed at Joe, and hurt myself.
Are they chasing u.s. ! asked. standing up
TO look back along the white road, for we
were just on the edge of the woods now.
"' Shouldn't wonder If ] had a better
horse it would be lively race, but Buck can't
keep this pace long. and If he founders we are
in fix, for l can't run, and you can't fight.
Betsey, there's more than one. Hold tight,
and try to count en-
Something in Jocs voice told me palmer
than words that we were in danger, and
/ wished we'd waited till the rest of our party
came; but / was tired, and SO we started
/ alone.
:Straining my eyes / could see three black
/ spots on the snow, and hear three howls as the
Z. wolves came gafloping after US. Il was brave
girl, bat I'D never tried this kirsi of thing be-
/ fore, and IN minute ali the wosf stories I'd
ever heard came flying through my mind.
a II
| and turned 70 Joe. trying 10 laugh, as | said !:
Only three as yet. Tell me just what to do,
I and I'll do IL"
- Brave lass, ] must see to Buck, Or he'll
/ be down, for he's badly scared You wait till
the rasca!s are pretty close, and then heave over
one Of those COMPOUNDED hams 10 aInuse 'en1,
while we make the most Of their halt They
smell this meat, and that's what they are after,
said Joe. driving his best for the poor old horse
< began 20 pant, aud limp on his stiff legs.
Lucky for us we've got EN- says l. bound
/ 10 be cool and gay, II we hadn't they'd get
fresh meat INSTEAD of smoked
Joe laughed, but long howl close by made
me dive for ham, for in the darkness of the
woods the beasts had got closer, and now all
could see were several balls of fire not many
yards away. Out went the ham. and a snarl-
I ing sound showed that the wolves were busy
eating it.
".AI right,' said Joe. Rest bit, and have
another ready. They'll soon finish that and
want more. We must go easy, for Buck is
nearly blown
Il prepared my ammunition, and, in what
seemed Eve minutes, heard the patter of feet
behind as, and the fiery eyes were close by.
Over went the second mouthfui, and then the
third, and the fourth; but they seemed more
rayeiols than ever. and each time were back
sooner III greater numbers.
We were nearly out of the woods when the
last was gone and if Buck5had only had
strength we should have been safe. But ii was
plain to see that he couldn't keep up much
longer, for he was very old, though he'd been a
fine horse in his prime.
:" This looks bad, little Betsey. Cover up in
the robes aud hold fast 10 me. The beasts viii
begin TO snatch presently, and I'll have to
fght 'em Of. Thank the powers, I've my arms
left
. As he spoke Joe pulled me close, and
wrapped me up. then took the whip ready to
rap the FIRST wolf that dared come near enough
to be hit. We didn't wait long up they raced
and began TO leap and snarl in a way that made
nay heart stand still at first. Then my temper
rose. and catching up the hot brick j had foI
my feet, fired il with such good aim, that one
sharp, black nose disappeared with ycip Of
pain.
g Hit 'enn again, Betscyl Take the demi.
john and bang 'cm we'll We are nearing Bea-
mans and the brutes win soon drop off,
:" Ii was a lively scrmmage for few min
Utes. as we both warmed to our work, joe
thTashing away with his whip on one side and
] on the other fourisiing the demijohn IN
which We had carried some cider for the sup
per.
fight Joe forgot the horse; poor Buck made q
sudden bolt, upset the sleigh down a bank, and
breaking loose tore back along the road with
the wolves after him.
Run, Betseyi run for your life, and send
Beaman's folks back Pm done for-my legs
broken. Never mind, III crawl under tho
{ sleigh, and be all right till you come The
wolves will take good while to pick poor