The Wahpeton times., 1891-05-07
A NIGHT WITH THE WOLVES

AeoAiAAy w WlSCOIISlil, t1AO 1OCitCeu Ily.
self in the woods, about ten miles from
the nearest settlement, and at least
fivefrom the nearest neighbor. The
country round was mostly forest; and
wild beasts and Indians were so
numerous in that quarter, that my
friends at the east, to whom I gave q
description OF my locality, expressed
great fears for our safety, and said
they should be less surprised to learn
of our having all been cut off, than to
hear of our still being alive out there
at the end OF a couple OF years. How
ever, l did not feel much alarmed on
my own account-and my wife was as
brave as a hunter; but then we had
three children--the Oldest only ten
and sometimes, when I was away from
home, the sudden growl of bear, the
howl OF a wolf, OIL the scream of u
panther, would make me think of
them, and feel quite uneasy.
For q while, at first, the night
screeching and howling of these wild
animals alarmed the children good
deal-and sometimes my wife and l.
especially when we mistook the cry of
the panther for an Indian yell; but we
soon got used to the different sounds,
and then did not mind them so much;
and after had got a few acres cleared
around the dwelling, they generally
kept more distant at night.
One bitter cold morning-the ground
Oeing deeply covered with snow, so
:rusted and frozen that no feet could
sink into it-I brought out the horse
Tor my wife to ride to the nearest set
Element, where she had some purchases
to make, which she wished to attend
to herself. Besides being we'll mufiled
up i'll her own clothing, wrapped q
large buffalo robe around her; and ad-
monishingher that the woods were full
OF danger after dark, urged her to be
sure and get back before sunset, which
she promised to do.
All day long, after her departure,
from some cause for which Icould not
account, l felt very much depressed
and uneasy, as if something evil were
were going to happen; and when Isaw
the sun about half an hour high, and
no signs OF my wife returning, l got
out my pistols, rifle, ammunition, and
hunting-knife, saddled young and
rather skittish colt, and bidding the
children keep within doors, and the
house safely locked, 1 mounted and
rode off to meet her, which expected
to do at every turn of the horse-path.
1t was just about dark when saw
the lights of the town cleaning in the
distance; but before 1 reached the
place met my wife Fastening home
ward-she having been unexpectedly
detained. l was greatly rejoiced to
find her safe and unharmed- but not
a little puzzled to account for my pre-
sentiment of evil, which it appeared to
me had taken place without cause.
We now set off ut brisk trot home
ward-through dense, dark, gloomy
wood, which lined our way on either
side-and had safely proceeded about
five miles, when we were somewhat
startled by a series of long, plaintive
howls, at a considerable distance, and
in different directions, and which our
experience told us were wolves, SEEM
ingly calling and answering each other
through the great forest.
The wolves of this region were of the
larger and fiercer species; and though
ordinarily and singly they might not
attack ahuman being, yet in numbers
and pressed by hunger, as they gener-
ally were at this season of the year, I
by no means felt certain that we
should not be molested. Accordingly
we quickened the pace of our horses;
and as we hurried on, I grew every
moment more uneasy and alarmed, as
l noticed that many of the sounds
gradually approached us. We had
just entered deep hollow, where q few
large trees stretched their huge branch
es over dense thlcket, when sudden
lly there arose several loud, harsh,
baying and snarling sounds close at
hand. The next moment there was O
quick rustling and thrashing among
the bushes; and then some six or eight
large wolves-lean, guant, and mad
dened with hunger-sprang into the
path close beside us.
This happened so suddenly and un-
expectedly, that my wife gave slight
scream and dropped her rein; and the
horse, rearing and plunging at the
same moment, unseated her; and she
fell to the ground, right in the very
midst of the savage and bowling
beasts.
Fortunately, her sudden fall start
led the wild animals little: and as
they momentarily drew back, she, with
rare presence ofmind; at once gathered
her buffalo robe, which she had
dragged with her, in such q manner
about her person as to protect her.
self from the first onset of their fangs.
The next moment the ferocioes ami
mails, with the most savage growls,
sprung at her, at me, and at the two
horses simultaneously. Hers at once
shook himself clear of his foes and
fled; and mine began to rear and plunge
in such q manner that I could not
make use of a single weapon, and only
by main strength keep him from rum
ming away with me.
1t was q terrible moment of exciting
agony; and the instant that l could
release my feet from the stirrups, I
leaped to the ground with yell-my
rifle slipping from my hands, and dis
charging itself by the concussion, and
my steed rushing like lightning after
his t1YlnQ COmnaniOn Oy0r the frozen