Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28

back before sunset, and II must Oe tha(
time now. How thoughtless we have
been that we did not start before !"
"But it's dangerous, boys" she eX-
postulated "the wolves may deyour
you. Stay with us, and start early in
the morning"
"She could not induce us to stay,
however, for our guilty consciences
were inwardly reproaching US for stay
log 80 long already. What would our
kind parents say when dark night
should come on without bringing our
return
"Pshaw !" said James who was some
two years older than 'tbe wolves
won't trouble !" and with these words
we started into brisk rrot.
''Already it was dusky in the thi,k
woods, and soon the snow commenced
to fall very fast. We reached the top
of high, wooded ridge, oyer which
tie road wound, and were plodding "a
long, facing the stormy blast, when II
low, dismal howl greeted our ears from
the swamp below.
"Jim," said L, "thats a wolf, sure's
the world l don't know but that we'd
done better to have stayed aG Mr..
Belcker's."
"Come on - he returned. "Who's
going to he afeard of one wolf !?
They never attack anything unless
there's gang together and we'll be
home before they get congregated !;
we're most half way home now"
"a few moments later the same dis
NAL howl rang mour2fully through the
thick forest again. And this time an
answer ing how came up from the val
ley on the other side. Another mo-
ment, aud then a prolonged echo re-
sounded behind us and then another,
from the glen away beyond the head of
the swamp.
ga cold shudder ran through my
quivering frame and my painting breath
seemed to come in itful gasps. What
would become Of US ? We should be
devoured by the wolves. Father, a.
larmed at our absence, would come to
find US and they would kill him too !
And mother and sister would mourn
and perhaps starve aud die alone in the
wilderness And it would all be on
account of our wicked disobedience.
The thought was whitening, and it
racked my very soul with mental a
gony.
1--WE had been carrying the venison
by turns. James sratched it from my
arms, and we fed like frightened deer
down the hill.
Gas we neared the low ground, the
sombre hemlocks shut out the little lin
gering light of day and we could but
just decern the road. Louder and
mora fierce sounded the blood-curdling
howls, as the cruel beasts gathered
neare rabout us, and we began to re-
alIze that terrible moment was ap-
preaching.
"Suddenly dark, ,tawny object dash,
ed across the rCad directly before US.
The dried twjgs snapped, and the
bushes rastled, as it leaped to one side
and sent forth quick, hoarse growl,
causing us to quake with terror.
flames threw down the Yenison.
He grasped my hand, and we sped a.
long the road with all our might. A
moment later such commingled snar.
ling and bowling arose as l pray heav-
en- may never hear again.
''They were fighting over the veni-
son and now, if we would save our
lives, we must do our utmost to escape
during the few moments they would be
engaged in devouring it.
"But ere we had proceeded hun
dred rods they were coming again in
swift pursuit. We were now running
up hill and we soon became 50 tired
it seemed as though we must drop from
exhaustion. Painting for breath, we
staggered on. 1t seemed as though We
should never reach the summit. We
broke over the height at last. however;
and, as we commenced to descend, a
bright light glimmered through the
forest, like brilliant lone star in the
darkness. To us it was indeed star
of joy. 1t was the light from our own
cabin window in the quiet little valley
below.
sit raised in our despondent breasts
new ray Of hope, and we darted on
with renewed energy. The binding
snow dashed in our faces, and winters
frozen blast roared through the naked
forest like a hurricane. The wolves
were now close upon us again, and in
moment we might feel their sharp
fangs pierce our flesh.
1--WE felt sure, if we could reach the
clearing, they would pause in their
pursuit, and then we should escape.
BY turning into rude, log path, we
could reach correr of it within thirty
or forty rods from where we were. 1t
Al. Al.