Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-06-04
1ales aud Sketfhfs.


The winter of 1889 was severe The
ruov fell at intervals during the whole
time. and the wind blew 80 hercely that
| In mauy places the drifts were six or seven
feet deep, and the snow in the open woods
vas four and . half feet on . level. Along
the river the drifts we're deeper. some
times filing in over the bank more than
IS feet. There was no thaw to speak Of
until the tenth of March, and that could
hardly be called one. as the weather be-
came cold and froze everything up again
40 quickly. The river, however. bad
overnowed, and there was lots of fun for
rs Youngsters on the glistening ice. so
we didn't mind the cold weather 80 much.
Not so with poor Granther. though. for
he slipped and fell on the glare ice, ,sprain-
ing his ankle badly.
| That in itself was not 81 great mlsfor-
tune aside from the pain, tor we children
| loved the old man dearly, and were ever
ready to wait upon him. but his traps set
along the creeks up the river must be at
tended to and the skins brought home. He
usually made his rounds every ten days.
| "Neyer mind, Granther," said Sam,
Frank and can go up as well as not
The skating is just splendid"
"Yes, yes, Granther, do send US, -" said l..
+ The old man smoked awhile in silence.
smiling at our impatience, ther answered
slowly:
"Wal, l don't keer if do. guess |
kin give We kinder chart SO ye can find
'em."
| hurried to the loft after the skates. and
Tom found and sharpened the knives, for
if there were any animals in the traps they
must be skinned, while Granther prepared
his chart, marking carefully each creek
and crook. and the exact place where we
could find the traps. Father was away
down on the river and was not expected
home for week. a fact for which we
were truly thankful, for had he been there
he would have visited the traps himself.
There was but three settlers above US,
each living on the bank of the river about
mile apart.
The one nearest us was Han hamburg,
a Du,chman, whom everybody loved for
his good humor The others only lived
on their claims in the summer. In the
winter they lived miles away in the lumber
camps where the women cooked food and
the men "bossed" lumber crew.
Get home early, boys. 'Taint safe to
be out after dark, specially any distance
this spring. and hungry too. it has been
such hard WINTER said mother as we
closed the door.
We heard her, but as We had not seen
any wolves near the settlement, we thought
her over anxious and did not give heed to
the words as we ought to have done.
The morning was splendid. warm and
spring like. John and George went with
us as far as Browns Creek (where Gran
ther had few traps set to carry home
the. catch" in those traps ifany were there.
We found two mink and some three or
four muskrats in them which we did not
stop to skin, the boys taking them home
to Ganther.
After setting and batting the traps anew.
we started along up the river. The rest
of the traps were nearly ten miles from
our clearing around the edge of little
pond. which was about quarter of mile
from the river. We reached there before
noon. but concluded to eat our lunch of
bread and bacon before setting to work,
then we skated TO the farther end of the
pond. After that started on one side and
Sam on the other. agreeing to meet at the
starting point. Each one of us had
couple OF knives and pair of revolvers.
besides our sharp keen hatchets. We did
not bring any rifles, it was so much easier
skating without them, and there were the
skins to carry home. 1t was nearly sun
set when arrived at the place agreed
upon, and Sam came in about ten minutes
later. We each had our frs done up in
neat bundle and strapped upon our shoul-
ders, knapssck fashion, and found them
no light load, either.
It was dusk before we reached the river,
and skates securely strapped to our feet.
started for home. But we didn't care for
that, the ice was as smooth as glass and
the moon would soon be up. No thought
of wolves entered our heads. until we had
gone over five miles of the distance. Sam
was fixing his skate when we heard. away
up the river in the dark woods we had Just
past, a sound tha. made the flesh creep
over our bones-tbe long drawn dismal
howl of the grey wolf. the call telling that
he had scented the prey and bidding his
friends and neighbors to the feast. So
! long as there was but one, we had nothing
to fear, for a wolf is too cowardly to ven-
ture an attack alone. We both knelt on
the ice and examined every strap and
buckle carefully, then settling our
furs more easily on our shoulders
dashed away down the river, not, however,
before we had heard those long dismal
howls answered and re-answered from
the depts of the forest, and realize to our
wits and good skates we must look for
our lives.
We fairly flew over the ice. and the
noise made by our skates rang out sharp
and clear on the night air. But fast as
we went other feet were faster vet, and
before we had gone mile we could plain
ly hear them pattering behind us. Oh if
We had needed mothers fond warning and
not so dallied about our work
Glancing back over our shoulders as we
passed bend in the river we saw as MANY
as fifty of the blood-thirsty brutes in eager
pursuit. while the woods echoed with the
howls of hundreds more ready to ioin the
chase
Fire y shouted Sam. wheeling and
snatcbing his revolver from his belt. while
he skated rapidly backwards. Fire at
the nearest ones." and at the word the
leader. an animal a trif1e fleeter than the
rest. fell upon the ice. Its comrades
| paused only long enouph to rend his topob