Los Angeles herald., 1890-09-24
SHE VANQUlSHED THE WOLF.

Strategy Helps a Maine Woman Out of q
Perilous Predicament.
One day Uncle Jonas two cows disap-
peared from the opening in the woods
about his lonely home and no traces of
them could be gained. Aunt Molly, as his
wife was called, started to hunt them up
next morning, as the men of the family
were away. Leaving the Children and
going in westerly direction, she wandered
throughout the day in the dark, unbroken
forest without mouthful to eat, except
few spruce buds and dried berries, with an
occasional handful of ground nuts, which
grew in great abundance on the lowlands.
The sun was fast sinking when, to her
great joy, she discovered the lost cows
quietly grazing on a small grass plot near
Crooked river some four miles from home.
With all possible haste she drove them
along hoping to reach home before dark,
and as she had no guide, not even spotted
trees, she had to trust wholly to the in
stinct of the beasts.
Their course often seemed to her exactly
the opposite to right. Still her practical
knowledge taught her it was best to let
them have their own way. When near
what is now known as the Pine house, on
a ridge covered by a growth of gigantic
pines, both cows gave a loud below, as if
from fright, and broke into furious gal
lop in the direction of home, now half a
mile distant. Pausing to ascertain the
cause of their fright she was confronted by
wolf.
The wolf at once made spring for her
face, no doubt intending to grab her throat.
With the skill and fury of an expert boxer
Aunt Molly dealt him a stunning blow
with ha- hrox bor Ge< Oh,
sent him back upon his launches Again
and again the starving brute leaped for her
throat, but each time was met by both fists
and feet with sufficient force to send him
back several feet. Knowing it was now
life or death the heroic woman found her
self fast growing weaker, while the attacks
of her savage adversary grew more fierce.
Snatching her tattered shawl from her
head, with desperate leap she threw it
over the head of the wolf with dexterity
which was not only surprising to the wolf
but herself also.
This piece of strategy had the effect to
bewilder the wolf. He leaped wildly about,
vainly endeavoring to rid himself of his
inconvenient headgear, while Molly lost no
time in climbing to the lower branches of
a tree and out of harms reach. When
the wolf had rid himself of his temporary
blindfold and sufficiently recovered his
equilibrium, seeing his intended victim be-
yond his reach he at once set up the most
demoniac howls of rage and disappoint-
ment, occasionally venting his spleen by
furious attacks upon the trunk of the tree
and tearing the rough bark with his long,
crooked fangs.
Here she remained until the return of
day, when the wolf skunk away in the di-
rection of the river. AS soon as she thought
him at safe distance Molly, nearly fam
ishing and benumbed by cold. hastened
down and speed for home as fast as the
condition of her cramped limbs and chilled
frame would permit.
She found the children half frightened
out of their wits, as the arrival of the cows
in so great agitation had given them the
idea that their mother had been devoured.
Lewiston Journal.