The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-02
Highest of all in Le.vening u Govt Reno

The creek bed was perfectly dry at
that place, no rain having fallen oil
winter.
Just before him was drift Of dead
trees, sticks and brush, left there by
the high waters Of last September.
The nearest tree that would afford
him any protection was a maple tree,
(which was at one end of the drift 1t
had been blasted by lightning, and the
top. where it was splintered consider
ably, hung over, its lower branches
touching the drift.
The wolves gave him no time 10
choose n better retreat, for they were
at his heels before he was aware, and
as he scrambled up the blighted maple
tho leader of the gang snapped at his
leg, infiicting no slight wound.
But soon Ed had drawn himself up
beyond their reach, and could deride
their disappointed bowls and the fran
tic efforts they made to get to him.
Had it been chilly day the young
trapper would have experienced great
er discomfort than he did. But the sun
shone brightly, and if he had brought
n piece of dried meat with him to ap-
pease his hunger he assured himself he
could have laughed ut his unpleasant
situation. All day the wolves surround
ed him. uttering their dismal cries, as
If bedlam had been let loose.
When the sun disappeared the even
ing air grew chilly. Ed began to feel
numb, and ceased to mock at the gang
at the foot of the tree.
ibis being freed by almost score of
iria -
of human aid, and with only one ball
left in his revolver, was far more seri-
Gus business than Ed had at first
thought
1t was uncertain when his father
would return from the traders camp,
perhaps not before morning.
Should a blizzard come sweeping
over the prairie, Ed knew he would be
frozen stiff as poker.
Fumbling about in his pockets he dis
covered n few matches, which put new
idea into his head.
Wolves were shy Of fire. If he could
only succeed in getting the heaps of
dry brush and sticks of the drift below
him to ignite. he might brighten his
tormentors away.
He resolved to put his scheme into
execution.
Removing his heavy hunting Jacket
he applied one of the burning matches
to it. The jacket was made of buck
skin and took fire easily.
1t was soon burning brightly, and Sc
lecting place in the drift suitable to
quick ignition, Ed let the Blazing coat
drop.
1t was not slow in communicating its
flames to the dry twigs among which It
had fallen.
The young trapper watched the FIRE
spread with great delight
At first the wolves had fallen bac,,
from the foot of the maple only a few
steps, but as the fire crept steadily
toward them. burning more vigorously
every moment. they beat a swift re-
treat and stood bowling from a safe
distance.
Ed was congratulating himself on
the success of his plan when he discov-
cred that he was surrounded by fire.
The drift wns heaped up all around
the trunk of the blasted tree, and this
was all ablaze before he knew it.
He dared not jump from the tree for
fear of landing in the midst of the fire.
His situation became more dangerous
every minute. The wolves seemed to
be deriding him now.
The smoke almost suffocated him.
while the heat from the flames was fast
becoming uncomfortable.
new danger suddenly presented it
self. The dead branches of the tree
which Topped down to the drift were