Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-03

quest of more wood to replenish 1t. To stay where he was appeared certain death also, for us the fire decreased in brightness the wolves grew braver. The dark shadows of their ugly forms fitted and darted here and there around him, making his situation desperate and appalling. As he turned from side to side watching them approach nearer and nearer, he decided upon risking Q piece of strategy.
 Leading through the dense brush for est, and but a short distance away was path, and he concluded to surprise the wolves, gain that path and with what burning brands he could collect and carry with him to fight the wolves with fire as he pushed toward to gain a place of safety. Acting on this resolu- tion in a moment he had the brands in his hands, and he sprang into the midst of the wolves, brandishing the blazing torches right and left, at the same time uttering such piercing sounds of defi- ance with all the power his voice could muster, that the whole pack of wolves ran from him like whipped CUTS, ncr did they venture to follow him until long after he had gained the pathway and made a considerable distance. Then, apparently collecting their wolf | sense, and seeing that their prey was likely to escape, they upbraided each other for their cowardice, and rushed on in one bowling mass to overtake him. Rev. Ostrander, on hearing them l coming with such fury, almost gave up in despair, concluding there was no longer any hope, but he determined to die. bravely and nerved himself for what he felt must be terrible en- counter.
 He had stepped to one side of the path way behind some bushes, thinking at first to let them go by, but on mature reflection, and just as the bowling pack came dashing down the pathway and were only few feet from him, he sprang right in front of them and ap- piled the blazing brands in their midst, burning mouths, noses, tongues and heads of the leaders so severely that they weakened and scattered in a twinkling. Hardly had they got out of sight ere the minister was hurrying for ward with all his speed to find some large tree which he might climb, or to reach clearing and rouse the inmates of a house near by it. For nearly five min
 utes he failed to catch any sound indi-
 eating what had become of the wolves,
 but at length he distinguished a few
 scattering howls, and a second or two
 later the forest fairly shook with
 their yells. But as Rev. Ostrande1
 darted onward another idea entered his
 mind.
 The ground was covered with leaves
 and they were very dry. Why wouldn't
 they burn, and why shouldn't he apply to them the blazing brands which he held and thus check the fury of his pur : suers? He suited the action to tho
 thought, and almost in moment had { line of fire of nearly two rods blazing
 across and at right angles to the path way. Fortunately the fire did not neet any coaxing in order to get it to burn It spread from leaf to leaf with sur , prising rapidity and then it burst int flames, and when the wolves came up wall of fire confronted them, througl which they were afraid to venture
 Compelled to halt and doubtless nor, amazed than ever, the fire nearly en circled them before they made an et , fort to get out of it's way; for, with strong current of wind, it began t march through the brush and its roa drowned even the bowling of the gra. , monsters. and from ten to fifteel minutes more elapsed before they wer again on the trail of their expecte game.
 But Ostrander had not only been i'm , proving every moment in hurrying fol ward towards the clearing, but he ha :; applied frebrands to the leaves as h ran, and immediately the pathway wa