The Bossier banner., 1892-04-21

morse became almost unmanageable.
and finally, stumbling over two that
were hanging to him in front, fell head
long. AS we We're going in a gallop,
and l was looking at couple spring
ing at him from behind, and had inst
shot one, was, of course, totally un-
prepared for this fall, and went, it
seemed to me, twenty-five feet over his
head. A pack of the gray devils were
on me in an instant, but at once arose,
and, killing two or three, became freed
from them. My horse also arose and
shook himself free from them, and, to
my utter dismay, went flying out over
the prairie. What thought was my
ruin, however, was my salvation. As
the horse started off the wolves fol-
lowed him, and every one joined in
the chase, leaving me entirely alone
had no time to spare, and, making up
my mind instantly, struck out ahead.
If could reach n small ranch some
ten miles ahead knew l would be all
right, and of course it would be folly to-
try to go back, so settled down to
walk which l hoped to keep up tor
hours. A glance to the left showed
me that my horse was trying to make
his way back over the road we had
come.
In about an hour or more | ap-
preached one of the few raviues that
one sees in that country, along the side
of which the road ran, and heard /.
short distance ahead that sharp, snap
ping snarl that wolves give when they
are worrying some animal. cou d
not avoid item, and, as there appeared
to be only two or three, | drew my re-
volver and walked right ahead.
Turning corner suddenly / came
upon sight which do not believe
can ever forget. About dozen
wolves had surrounded and were now
holding at bay and trying to worry to
death splendid specimen of an old
buffalo bull. The skin hung in shreds
on his legs, and he was bleeding and
standing in pool OF blood. The
vicious, hungry beasts had lost about
half their number on the horns or
under the hsofs of the old fellow, but
they had actually torn out his eyes in
the struggle, and he stood there with
the small bluff behind him and with
his face to the foe, stamping and
crushing them when he could, though
stone blind AS turned the corner Il
large wolf had sprung upon him, and
at once shot him. At the sound of my
pistol the old bull started and
trembled violently, but feeling his
enemy fall at his feet he jumped upon
him with incredible fury and stamped
him out of all lshape. The next one
shot the bull seemed to realize that il
was friend rather than an enemy
J who had arrived, for he felt for the
wolf as it fell and stamped it as before
but did not seem at all frightened al
my pistol shot
: The long, dismal howls which | ha6
been hearing in every direction KEEP
coming nearer all the time, and
l was fully FIVE miles from tho
ranch of n Mr.. Lewis hat
hoped to- reach. 1t would be sure
death to try to reach Lewis, so de
cided / would stay and take m,
chances with the buffalo bull
would at least have the advantage o
the ravine. The wolves increased il
/. numbers far faster than l could thil
them out, and in short while w
were surrounded by the snappin,
: fiends. Slowly, but constantly, TIL
space between me and the old bul
lessened He became so convince
that l was friend that he made n
= effort to guard the side toward me a
- all, but devoted his entire energies t
:. the opposite side and in front / ha
- all could do to protect myself an
. keep the scoundrels off, but could nc
= resist occasionally turning and KILN
- one for the old bull, which he SCENE
to appreciate, judging from the vigc
y with which he demolished each one
- shot
~ But slowly, though surely, the wolve
. become bolder and more numerous
Is 1t was simply question of time, and
u was beginning to give up, when
~ heard a rihe-shot in the distance.
Il answered it with two quick shots an
y then waited. 1t seemed lik
hours, but was only minute or TIVE
till heard the rife shot again-th
time much closer. In very shol
while l was saved. My host of tt
evening before had lost some catt
and while looking them up with Sc
eral of his hands had come across N
horse while the wolves were devou
ing him. AS no signs appeared of m
being injured, he felt satisfied | w;
somewhere within few miles ar
needing assistance. AS consequent
he had dropped everything else to loo
for me, and had found me.
We examined thoroughly to see
the bull was blind beyond hope. ar
found that he was, SO l asked n
friends to put him out of his misery
could not bear to do it myself-and {
they did.
1 have had some little experien
with wolves once or twice since the
but that was the closest call, think,
ever had.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
She Pardoned Him.